Comparison of Cell Sizes for Cost Efficient Deployment of a Sensor Network Aided Cognitive Radio System

Abstract

To exploit spectrum resources on a secondary basis, a Sensor Network Aided Cognitive Radio Network uses a wireless sensor network that assists a secondary cognitive radio network by providing information about the current primary spectrum occupancy. In this paper we determine the performance for different cell sizes when considering the costs for deployment of base stations in a secondary network that exploits spectrum holes identified by the wireless sensor network. The secondary base station is deployed co-located with a mobile primary network that uses a cellular reuse pattern with seven frequencies. Performance of the secondary system and impact on the primary system are mainly studied in terms of throughput, packet loss and coverage when using spectrum holes in the space, time and frequency domains. Especially, we find that the cell size and configured transmit powers for the secondary system are important for optimal system performance, and that smaller cell sizes and less expensive base stations for the secondary system are beneficial. The impact on primary system performance was found to be low, but that optimal tuning of the sensor network is important.