DS3: A Dynamic and Smart Spectrum Sensing Technique for Cognitive Radio Networks under denial of service attack

IEEE 802.22 Cognitive Radio Networks (CRN) employ a two-stage quiet period mechanism based on a mandatory Fast Sensing and an optional Fine Sensing stage for Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) during every super frame. However, the two-stage spectrum sensing approach presents an opportunity to malicious users where they can launch a smart Denial of Service (DoS) attack by transmitting a very short jamming signal during the fast sensing stage and thus forcing the CRN to carry out fine sensing, thereby wasting spectrum opportunities for honest Secondary Users (SU). In this paper, we present `DS3´: A Dynamic and Smart Spectrum Sensing algorithm, which minimizes the effects of jamming as well as noise on the fast sensing phase of DSA. It improves system´s efficiency by striking a balance between spectrum utilization by SUs and delay in the detection of Primary Users´ (PU) presence on the spectrum, using a dynamic fine sensing decision algorithm with minimal overhead.