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MAC layer design in cognitive radio networks

Conference Paper · June 2010

DOI: 10.1109/WOWMOM.2010.5534967 · Source: DBLP

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 MAC Layer Design in Cognitive Radio Networks
Suzan Bayhan

Department of Computer Engineering, Boğaziçi University, İstanbul, Turkey

bayhan@boun.edu.tr

Abstract—The main focus of this thesis is to design and develop II. B EST F IT C HANNEL ACCESS FOR AN A D H OC CRN
cognitive MAC protocols for various networks. Furthermore, we
aim to explore the design tools, approaches and auxiliary systems We design a channel access scheme for an ad hoc CRN
that can be adapted to and applied in cognitive radio (CR) that facilitates the distributed channel access in an efficient
domain. In particular, we proposed a distributed spectrum access way. In the literature, mostly an SU applies various learning
scheme for ad hoc CR networks (CRN) in which each secondary and prediction schemes to estimate the availability times of
user (SU) acts in an altruistic way. The proposed access scheme PU channels. Next, the channel with the highest probability
improves CRN throughput compared to the selfish scheme that is
mostly considered in the literature. Next, we propose a symbiotic of being idle or the one with the longest remaining idle time
operation of CRs and cognitive femtocells, in which SUs use the (longest idle time channel selection) is selected for access.
sensing outcome of the femto-BS and are charged accordingly. However, this scheme may decrease system performance since
Addition of “cognitive” sensing to the femto-BS contributes to the an SU selects selfishly the best channel even it does not use
discovery of spectrum holes and facilitates higher bandwidth at it. As a solution, we propose best fit channel selection (BFC)
the femtocells compared to the conventional femto-BS. Currently,
we focus on design and development of adaptive medium access scheme in which each SU selects the channel that meets its
control (MAC) protocol that considers various aspects of the requirements instead of the longest idle time channel. BFC
operating environment (e.g. PU mobility) and the CR itself. scheme outperforms LITC in terms of secondary throughput.
Figure 1 depicts the performance of these two schemes under
varying traffics.
I. I NTRODUCTION
0.8
SLLS
Future communication networks are expected to be het- SSLS SLLL
α = {0.75, 1,5}
β = {0.75, 1,5}
BFC
LRITC
0.7
erogenous and thereby it is crucial to have the intelligence to SSLL
LLLS
adapt to these heterogenous and time-varying environments. 0.6
SSSS
SLSS
LSLS LLLL
SLSL
This intelligence can be provided by “cognitive” capabilities
Probability of success

SSSL LSLL
0.5
that cover a wide range of capabilities from spectrum sensing, LLSS
LSSS
parameter adaptation to prediction based operation. Cognitive 0.4
LSSL
LLSL

radios equipped with cognitive capabilities provide a solution 0.3

to the pseudo spectrum scarcity via its spectrum agility capa-

0.2
bility, facilitate multimode operation via parameter adaptation
and easy the realization of autonomous networks paradigm. 0.1

In CRN, MAC design composes of two parts: sensing and 0

access policy. Sensing policy determines the set of channels to
sense, the order and duration of each sensing. After locating
the spectrum holes by application of sensing policy, access
policy determines access related issues such as to access
the band or not. Previous research on MAC layer mostly
assume SUs generate identical traffic and are willing to trans-
mit continuously whenever an empty band exists. Since this
simplification neglects the effect of SU traffic properties on
system performance, we take SU traffic properties in designing
MAC protocols as the main focus of our work. Secondary
traffic is derived by human users, and follows a pattern that
can be estimated by the SU and sensing planning can be done
accordingly. Additionally, SU hardware restrictions must also
be considered in the design of cognitive MAC protocols.
In the following sections, we overview the completed
(II,III), ongoing (IV-A) and planned works (IV-B) in the scope
of this thesis.
978-1-4244-7265-9/10/$26.00 2010
c IEEE
BFC vs. LITC
Fig. 1. BFC outperforms LITC in terms of secondary network throughput
and successful transmission probability.
III. C OGNITIVE F EMTOCELLS
Deployed at the homes or small-area public places, fem-
tocells are low-power plug-and-play base stations providing
connectivity to the cellular operator’s network via broadband
connection. Femtocell concept has been developed to improve
spatial coverage with increasing reuse without adding much
complexity and cost and to provide a cost-effective solution
to the poor indoor coverage. CRs and femtocells are similar
in that they both increase spectral efficiency. In this research,
we define and propose a femtocell-based CR architecture
for enabling multi-tiered access in next-generation broadband
wireless systems. This architecture combines the conventional
femtocell idea with infrastructure-based CRN paradigm. The
“cognitive femtocell” concept leads to a simpler and easier Throughput-
Delay-minimizing
proliferation of CR into the practical systems. We highlight the MAC
maximizing
MAC
drawbacks and advantages of the proposed network structure
with a discussion on research directions for cognitive femtocell
architecture. As Figure 2 shows, the femto-BS with cognitive
Energy-eficient
capability of spectrum sensing provides better throughput for MAC
SUs (Scenario I) compared to Scenario II where each SU tries
to perform the spectrum sensing itself and access the channels
accordingly. Fig. 3. Hybrid MAC is composed of three states.

18

17
schemes considering the PU mobility. A simple sketch of
Scenario II this issue is depicted in Figure 4. Various methods for next-
16
location estimation are proposed in the literature, mostly in
Average SU Throughput (packets/timeslot)

15 the scope of mobility management. Some of the methods are

14
neural networks, Bayesian networks, Markov models, and state
predictors. These methods will be examined and applied into
13
our CR research with necessary modifications due to the nature
Scenario I
12
of CRN.
11 λ=0.3

10 λ=0.6
PU1

9 λ=0.9
PU2

8
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5
SU Probability of False Alarm (Pf)
SU/CR

Fig. 2. SU throughput decreases with increasing Pf in Scenario I. However, PU

macro-PU and femto-PU throughput values are slightly affected.

Fig. 4. PUs may be subject to harmful interference by SU transmissions due
to sudden changes in their locations.
IV. P LANNED R ESEARCH D IRECTIONS
A. Multi-State MAC protocols
V. C ONCLUSIONS
Depending on the CR system requirements, CR protocols
may be different in nature. Some protocols are designed with The main focus of this thesis is to design and develop
the objective of providing CR throughput-efficiency (i.e. max- cognitive MAC protocols. First, we develop a cognitive MAC
imizing throughput) while some aiming at energy-efficiency. protocol for an ad hoc CRN in which each SU selects the
However, each protocol is desirable in case of its specific best fit channel to its transmission time, instead of selfishly
objective. Thus, adaptive protocols that change the objectives selecting the longest remaining idle time channel. This access
depending on the CR applications and properties are required policy improves the network throughput compared to the self-
to meet all the objectives at different times. In this work, we ish approach. Next, we design a femtocell network architecture
propose an adaptive protocol framework that switches from that embeds cognitive capabilities into the femto-BS, thereby
one MAC protocol to another with different objectives based increases the spectral efficiency in the femtocell coverage
on the CR state. This adaptive property is more suitable to the area. Increased spectral efficiency increases the SU throughput
nature of CRs which is supposed to be agile. Agility mostly while decreasing the PU interference. Moreover, we work on
refers to the capability of CR to change operating parameters. a multi-state MAC protocol that changes its objective function
Besides, we note that it also refers to the agility in the protocol throughout the time depending on the internal states of the SU.
stack. In other words, a CR node can change its MAC protocol This dynamic MAC protocol best fits to the vision of adaptive
stack (other protocol policies as well) depending on its state. and dynamic nature of CR. We also plan to design a MAC
Figure 3 illustrates the states of the proposed adaptive protocol. that considers mobility of the PUs in resource allocation.
We will study the details of the protocol in further research. VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
B. MAC Design Considering PU Mobility This work is supported by the valuable comments and
PU mobility modeling is crucial to avoid harming PU com- guidance of my PhD advisor Prof. Fatih Alagoz and my
munications due to excessive interference at the PU receivers. colleague Gurkan Gur.
In this project, we will examine, design and analyze resource
allocation schemes in CRN applying the location prediction

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