Wideband Collaborative Spectrum Sensing Using Massive MIMO Decision Fusion

In this paper, in order to tackle major challenges of spectrum exploration & allocation in Cognitive Radio (CR) networks, we apply the general framework of Decision Fusion (DF) to wideband collaborative spectrum sensing based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) reporting. At the transmitter side, we employ OFDM without Cyclic Prefix (CP) in order to improve overall bandwidth efficiency of the reporting phase in networks with high user density. On the other hand, at the receiver side (of the reporting channel) we device the Time-Reversal Widely Linear (TR-WL), Time-Reversal Maximal Ratio Combining (TR-MRC) and modified TR-MRC (TR-mMRC) rules for DF. The DF Center (DFC) is assumed to be equipped with a large antenna array, serving a number of unauthorized users competing for the spectrum, thereby resulting in a “virtual” massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) channel. The effectiveness of the proposed TR-based rules in combating (a) inter-symbol and (b) inter-carrier interference over conventional (non-TR) counterparts is then examined, as a function of the Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR). Closed-form performance, in terms of system false-alarm and detection probabilities, is derived for the formulated fusion rules. Finally, the impact of large-scale channel effects on the proposed fusion rules is also investigated, via Monte-Carlo simulations.