A simulation approach for analysis of multi-hop connectivity in cognitive radio ad-hoc networks

In this paper, we investigate the multi-hop connectivity in cognitive radio ad-hoc networks (CRAHNs). Specifically, we propose an algorithm to check the multi-hop connectivity of two arbitrary secondary nodes with random nodes´ locations and primary nodes´ active states as inputs. Then, we use statistical simulation approach with our proposed algorithm to obtain the overall multi-hop connectivity in CRAHNs. We also compare multi-hop connectivity in CRAHNs with conventional ad-hoc networks (AHNs). The simulation results with various network parameters in this paper show that multi-hop connectivity in CRAHNs is always lower than that in AHNs. Multi-hop connectivity has inverse u-shape and is relieved as primary node density decreases. Moreover, multi-hop connectivity in both CRAHNs and AHNs increases and reaches saturation point as secondary node density increases.