Energy Detection Based Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks

Detection performance of an energy detector used for cooperative spectrum sensing in a cognitive radio network is investigated over channels with both multipath fading and shadowing. The analysis focuses on two fusion strategies: data fusion and decision fusion. Under data fusion, upper bounds for average detection probabilities are derived for four scenarios: 1) single cognitive relay; 2) multiple cognitive relays; 3) multiple cognitive relays with direct link; and 4) multi-hop cognitive relays. Under decision fusion, the exact detection and false alarm probabilities are derived under the generalized "k-out-of-n" fusion rule at the fusion center with consideration of errors in the reporting channel due to fading. The results are extended to a multi-hop network as well. Our analysis is validated by numerical and simulation results. Although this research focuses on Rayleigh multipath fading and lognormal shadowing, the analytical framework can be extended to channels with Nakagami-m multipath fading and lognormal shadowing as well.