Signal Processing Techniques for Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radio Networks

The rising number and capacity requirements of wireless systems bring increasing demand for RF spectrum. Cognitive radio (CR) system is an emerging concept to increase the spectrum efficiency. CR system aims to enable opportunistic usage of the RF bands that are not occupied by their primary licensed users in spectrum overlay approach. In this approach, the major challenge in realizing the full potential of CR systems is to identify the spectrum opportunities in the wide band regime reliably and optimally. In the spectrum underlay approach, CR systems enable dynamic spectrum access by co-existing and transmitting simultaneously with licensed primary users without creating harmful interference to them. In this case, the challenge is to transmit with low power so as not to exceed the tolerable interference level to the primary users. Spectrum sensing and estimation is an integral part of the CR system, which is used to identify the spectrum opportunities in spectrum overlay and to identify the interference power to primary users in spectrum underlay approach. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of signal detection techniques for spectrum sensing proposed for CR systems. Specifically, we outline the state-of-the-art research results, challenges and future perspectives of spectrum sensing in CR systems, and also present a comparison of different methods. With this article, readers can have a comprehensive insight of signal processing methods of spectrum sensing for cognitive radio networks and the ongoing research and development in this area.