A new cross-layer design strategy for TV White Space Cognitive Radio applications

Conventional single layer processing in Cognitive Radio Networks (CRN) can incur significant time costs in transferring information between the various layers of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model, due its innate sequential structure. This is especially a problem for CRN which usually only has a narrow time window to access spectral gaps of either licensed or other secondary users (SU). To exploit this opportunity, cross layer processing (CLP) paradigms that share information between OSI layers and the radio system have been proposed to maximise throughput for SU, while maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) provision to the licensed primary user. With the global transference of TV systems to digital platforms, regulatory bodies have identified an opportunity to allocate additional digital TV (DTV) channels to CRNs on a localised basis, in what is called TV White Space (TVWS). This paper investigates how CLP of information can be effectively exploited to enhance CRN system performance by making key channel allocations to minimise disruption to the spectrum environment, while maximising available resources to fulfil application and network requirements within TVWS.