A cooperative sensing based spectrum broker for Dynamic Spectrum Access

Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) provides a more flexible spectrum management method versus the current command and control method and promises much higher spectrum utilization efficiency. By this paradigm, secondary users can use vacant spectrum while guaranteeing non-interference to incumbent users. Therefore, spectrum awareness is a required function in DSA, and cooperative spectrum sensing is widely endorsed. However, such a cooperative spectrum sensor network puts stringent conditions on both data latency and data reliability because secondary users should quickly and reliably be informed about incumbent signals' presence. Cooperative spectrum sensor data should be fused in a data fusion center. The result is needed by secondary users in managing spectrum sharing. This paper describes a DSA broker that not only interfaces with cooperative spectrum sensors and fuses sensed spectrum data, but also manages secondary user's access of spectrum. The paper also gives a set of schemes for spectrum data flow and process management within spectrum sensors and the DSA brokers in reducing data latency and achieving high data reliability.