ABSTRACT
Cognitive radio is an intelligent software-defined radio (SDR) technology that facilitates efficient, reliable, and dynamic use of the underused radio spectrum by reconfiguring its operating parameters and functionalities in real time depending on the radio environment. Cognitive radio networks promise to resolve the bandwidth scarcity problem by allowing unlicensed devices to transmit in unused “spectrum holes” in licensed bands without causing harmful interference to authorized users.1-4 In concept, the cognitive technology configures the radio for different combinations of protocol, operating frequency, and waveform. Current research on cognitive radio covers a wide range of areas, including spectrum sensing, channel estimation, spectrum sharing, and medium access control (MAC).
