Optimizing dynamic spectrum allocation for cognitive radio networks using hybrid access scheme

Allowing Secondary Users (SUs) to access the licensed spectrum without causing harmful interference to the Primary Users (PUs) is crucial in enabling the Cognitive Radio (CR) technology. In order to increase the utilization of the spectrum bands, we propose a Dynamic Spectrum Allocation (DSA) algorithm that integrates both interweave and underlay spectrum access schemes. The proposed algorithm will jointly take into account the geographical locations of the nodes, the correlated shadow fading, the interference between the primary and the secondary networks, the interference between SUs that are transmitting on the same channel, and the communications activity of the users. Moreover, a suboptimal heuristic DSA algorithm that jointly takes into consideration all of the aforementioned issues, while requiring low computational- and time-costs, is developed. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm provides a good success rate and outperforms classical spectrum allocation algorithms.