Coalitional game formulation for multi-channel cooperative cognitive radio networks

In this paper, we study a coalitional game approach to resource allocation in a multi-channel cooperative cognitive radio network with multiple primary users (PUs) and secondary users (SUs). We propose to form the grand coalition by grouping all PUs and SUs in a set, where each PU can lease its spectrum to all SUs in a time-division manner while the SUs in return help the data transmission of PUs by relaying. The grand coalition is shown to be stable in the considered scenario by justifying that the solution concept of the coalitional game (the core) is nonempty. Also, optimal relay strategies of SUs, to relay or to transmit its own data, are obtained so that the sum rate of all PUs and SUs is maximized. Finally, we demonstrate in simulation the benefits of the grand coalition comparing to the case of direct transmission only and other forms of coalitions as well.