Analysis of Control Overheads in Dynamic Cooperative Spectrum Sensing

IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) leverages Cognitive Radio (CR) technology to utilize unused TV white spaces for wireless broadband access in rural areas. Spectrum sensing is critical to detect vacant channels without interfering with licensed users. This research proposes a Dynamic Cooperative Spectrum Sensing (DCSS) mechanism that dynamically adjusts cooperation among secondary users to enhance sensing accuracy and reliability. The study investigates the control overheads-such as signaling and coordination-associated with DCSS and their impact on network performance. Using NetSim 12, simulations focused on voice traffic evaluate key performance indicators including delay, packet delivery ratio, and control message overhead. Results highlight the trade-off between improved sensing performance and increased control overhead, providing insights for optimizing WRAN operations in practical deployments.