A comprehensive methodology for opportunistic spectrum access based on residual white space distribution

Abstract

Assuming that Secondary Users (SU) have channel occupancy data (channel idle and busy durations) of Primary Users (PU), this paper presents a methodology to fit primary channel occupancy data to a distribution. Then we show how SUs can opportunistically transmit in the white spaces based on residual white space distribution while keeping probability of interference (with the PUs) below a predefined threshold. We also present analytical formulation for the average throughput of the secondary user and validate it through simulation. Our simulation results show that using the proposed methodology, SU's transmission always remains below the interference threshold and the channel efficiency increases with minimal impact on PU application performance for low values of interference threshold.