Performance of Joint Spectrum Sensing and MAC Algorithms for Multichannel Opportunistic Spectrum Access Ad Hoc Networks

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytical framework to evaluate link layer throughput in multichannel opportunistic spectrum access ad hoc networks, focusing on spectrum sensing and MAC protocols, and introduces a new protocol TTDMA for efficient sensing.

Contribution

It proposes a new protocol TTDMA for collaborative spectrum sensing and analyzes various MAC control channel designs and preemption handling strategies, providing insights for optimizing network performance.

Findings

Buffering SU connections is generally better than switching to PU channels.

TTDMA is effective when the fusion rule parameter k remains constant.

Optimized protocol combinations improve link throughput in multichannel OSA networks.

Abstract

We present an analytical framework to assess the link layer throughput of multichannel Opportunistic Spectrum Access (OSA) ad hoc networks. Specifically, we focus on analyzing various combinations of collaborative spectrum sensing and Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol abstractions. We decompose collaborative spectrum sensing into layers, parametrize each layer, classify existing solutions, and propose a new protocol called Truncated Time Division Multiple Access (TTDMA) that supports efficient distribution of sensing results in "k out of N" fusion rule. In case of multichannel MAC protocols we evaluate two main approaches of control channel design with (i) dedicated and (ii) hopping channel. We propose to augment these protocols with options of handling secondary user (SU) connections preempted by primary user (PU) by (i) connection buffering until PU departure and (ii) connection switching to a vacant PU channel. By comparing and optimizing different design combinations we show that (i) it is generally better to buffer preempted SU connections than to switch them to PU vacant channels and (ii) TTDMA is a promising design option for collaborative spectrum sensing process when k does not change over time.