On the effects of random timing jitter on spectrum sensing algorithms based on cyclostationarity

Cognitive radio is an enabling technology, which is expected to lead to a more efficient utilization of the available spectral resources due to its flexibility and its ability to sense its spectral environment. Recently, spectrum sensing methods based on exploiting the cyclostationary characteristics of communication signals have been drawing interest. In practice, imperfections in the signal generation or reception may affect the cyclic statistics of a signal of interest, leading to a degradation in the performance of cyclostationarity-exploiting spectrum sensing schemes based on an ideal signal model. A typical source of imperfection is random timing jitter, which can occur at the transmitter side, most notably in the form of pulse timing jitter for digitally modulated signals, or at the receiver side in the form of sampling jitter. In this work, we explore the effect of random timing jitter on the second order cyclostationary statistics of wide sense cyclostationary signals. General analytical expressions are derived for the cyclic statistics of signals in the presence of sampling and pulse timing jitter and specific results are provided for cases of practical interest. Subsequently, the effect of the both jitter types on a cyclostationary-based spectrum sensing algorithm is investigated via simulations.