Collaborative spectrum sensing using sequential detections: Soft decision vs. hard decision

The agility of cognitive radio user can be improved by implementing collaborative spectrum sensing which is based on sequential detection. The main purpose of the paper is to compare performances of collaborative spectrum sensing using sequential detection under unlimited (soft decision) and limited (hard decision) control channel bandwidth. We use the average sample number (ASN) and the operating characteristics (OC) function as the performance measures. In addition to having much less control channel bandwidth, the simulations results show that the ASNs and OC functions of collaborative sequential detection with hard decision is still comparable to collaborative sequential detection with soft decision.