A novel channel indexing-based channel selection algorithm for cognitive radio networks

Cognitive radio (CR) is an emerging Next-generation technology, which is introduced to improve the utilization of the license spectrum. For efficient spectrum utilization, Secondary user´s (SUs) first detect the spectrum holes in license spectrum and then adjusts their transmission parameters accordingly. Primary user´s (PUs) are paying for their use therefore, they have exclusive rights over license spectrum and they can access license bands anytime they desire. In Non-collaborative channel sharing, PUs and SUs do not exchange control information. Such spectrum sharing causes severe interference to PUs which leads to data collisions and frequent channel switching that ultimately reduces the overall system throughput. In this paper, we propose a novel PU activity-aware channel indexing scheme and based on that indexing scheme we proposed a rank-based channel selection algorithm (RCSA) for efficient license bands exploitation. We compare the performance of our propose RCSA algorithm with well know Listen-Before-Talk channel access scheme. Simulation results prove the significance of our proposed algorithm in term of collisions, channel switching and throughput.