An enhanced binary particle swarm optimization algorithm for channel assignment in cognitive radio networks

Efficient utilization of open spectrum in cognitive radio networks requires appropriate allocation of idle spectrum frequency bands among coexisting cognitive radios while minimizing interference among all primary and secondary users. This NP-hard problem is referred to as the spectrum allocation or the channel assignment problem in cognitive radio networks. This article proposes and tests an enhanced binary particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to solve the channel assignment problem in cognitive radio networks. The performance of this algorithms is compared to that of three published algorithms that are fine-tuned for this particular problem Three utilization functions, namely, Mean-Reward, Max-Min-Reward, and Max-Proportional-Fair, are used to evaluate the effectiveness of tested algorithms and results of extensive simulations are presented. Results showed superiority of the proposed algorithm with improvement up to 7.6% over the best published results while its computation time is yet behind the best published results.