Bio-inspired cognitive radio for dynamic spectrum access

Abstract

Dynamic spectrum access (DSA) has raisedthe attention of industrial and academic researchers due to the fact thatit is seen as a technologyable to overcome the lack of available spectrum for new communication services.In particular, autonomic DSA (ADSA) systems are indicated as a solution to spectrumscarcity caused by the current command and control allocationparadigm. However, ADSA requires a higher level of reconfigurability with respect totraditional wireless systems. In this context, one of the technologies thatcan provide such flexibility is the promising cognitive radio (CR).In an ADSA scenario, CR should sense the spectrum to find the resources unused byprimary (licensed) users, which could then be exploited by secondary(unlicensed) CR users to increase the overall system efficiency.In this chapter, a comprehensive overview of CR applications to ADSA is carried out;in particular, attention is paid to the potentialities of autonomic bio-inspiredapproaches, and on their advantages in the solution of the challenges ofADSA systems. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.