Channel and sensing aware channel access policy for multi-channel cognitive radio networks

We propose a reservation-based channel access policy for multi-channel cognitive radio networks. To enhance the throughput of secondary users (SUs), SUs are allowed to select channels opportunistically according to both the local channel state information (CSI) and the spectrum sensing outcomes. SUs will then compete for the right of transmission on the chosen channel by emitting reservation packets to the access point sequentially according to their local CSI. We further devise a proper threshold on channel gains such that only the SUs whose channel gains are sufficiently high can reserve channels and the interference from SUs to the licensed network can be limited. A channel aware splitting algorithm is adopted to schedule the SU with the highest channel gain to transmit at each time instant. From simulations, the proposed channel access policy outperforms the policies that take into consideration only CSI or sensing outcomes.