Blockchain Based Dynamic Spectrum Access of Non-Real-Time Data in Cyber-Physical-Social Systems

Big data sharing in Cyber-Physical-Social Systems (CPSSs) relies on wireless transmission between numerous devices, causing a serious scarcity of radio spectrum resources. Although license-free spectrum access has great potential to alleviate the growing scarcity of spectrum resources, spectrum competition is more intense due to lower access requirements. A blockchain technology may solve this competition problem by introducing a dynamic cycle of “competition-verification-synchronization-competition”. In this paper, we propose a general framework for license-free spectrum resource management in CPSSs based on blockchain technologies and smart contracts. The management framework is mainly used for edge computing of non-real-time data. In particular, we divide spectrum of a local cell into multiple channels and each channel corresponds to a blockchain. Then, we propose a blockchain-KM protocol that may improve transaction processing speed without losing typical attributes of a general blockchain. For the proposed Blockchain-KM protocol, the entire private chain becomes a multi-ring blockchain and users rely on mining or leasing to access wireless spectrum. Different from the traditional mining process, the reward in our mining process is not only virtual currency but also a spectrum access license. Once a miner obtain a spectrum access license, it will exploit the license to transmit its messages over wireless links. Also, the miner may sell its license by an auction when it does not want to transmit messages. In the auction, we introduce a virtual currency, called as Xcoin, for spectrums or other trading (e.g., paid edge computing services).