A protocol class for stealing residual bandwidth in uncoordinated distributed wireless networks

Abstract

The need for finding effective means of recycling spectrum is becoming increasingly apparent as the world becomes more crowded with wireless devices. While finding a policy solution to this problem will require years, "cognitive radio" is an immediately applicable technology-based solution. Our attention is focused on how a distributed uncoordinated cognitive group of "secondary" users (those with lower priority access to the spectrum) can push data through its network on a single band and in the presence of non-cognitive "primary" users (those with priority access to the spectrum). The main contribution is a novel class of cognitive radio protocols that accomplish this through feedback, where secondaries estimate residual bandwidth and adapt a performance-based parameter. This class of solutions is presented, its parameters are explored and a specific implementation is demonstrated with insights gained.