Dynamic Spectrum Access as a Mechanism for Transition to Interference Tolerant Systems

Much of the consideration of Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) has been focused on its ability to provide secondary spectrum sharing without any impact on primary users of the spectrum. This paper argues that significantly more spectrum sharing is possible, if a regime is established where-in some level of interference is permitted, and all users of the spectrum have the ability to utilize DSA in order to relocate in the event of unacceptable interference. It is shown that this regime offers higher reliability for both primary and secondary users, significantly increases the density of spectrum usage, and provides the ability to statistically distribute the effects of interference to ensure that no single user is subjected to highly correlated effects. While features resembling DSA are being included in some emerging system designs, its transition to a general and heterogeneous environment has not yet occurred.