On the second-order cyclostationarity for joint signal detection and classification in cognitive radio systems

Spectrum awareness is a crucial aspect of a cognitive radio (CR). The CR concept of dynamically sensing and adapting to the radio frequency environment depends on the ability to perform reliable joint signal detection and classification at low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) given relaxed a priori information. This paper proposes a joint detection and classification algorithm for single-carrier linearly digitally modulated (SCLD), cyclically prefixed SCLD (CP-SCLD), and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals, which does not require estimation of signal and noise powers, symbol timing, and carrier and waveform recovery.