Detection Timing and Channel Selection for Periodic Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio

In this paper, detection timing and channel selection for periodic spectrum sensing are investigated to improve the performance of cognitive radio (CR) users. Designed to maximize the channel efficiency of CR users under a given level of interference with licensed users, the detection timing scheme utilizes the statistics of the licensed channel occupancy to determine the optimal starting point of each sensing action. A channel selection scheme in the multichannel multiuser environment is also proposed to specify which channel to detect for the upcoming sensing action based on detection timing. Numerical results demonstrate that our schemes considerably improve the overall channel efficiency while protecting the communication among licensed users.