An Innovative Signal Detection Algorithm in Facilitating the Cognitive Radio Functionality for Wireless Regional Area Network Using Singular Value Decomposition

This thesis introduces an innovative signal detector algorithm in facilitating the cognitive radio functionality for the new IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRAN) standard. It is a signal detector based on a Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) technique that utilizes the eigenvalue of a received signal. The research started with a review of the current spectrum sensing methods which the research classifies as the specific, semiblind or blind signal detector. A blind signal detector, which is known as eigenvalue based detection, was found to be the most desired detector for its detection capabilities, time of execution, and zero a-priori knowledge. The detection algorithm was developed analytically by applying the Signal Detection Theory (SDT) and the Random Matrix Theory (RMT). It was then simulated using Matlab® to test its performance and compared with similar eigenvalue based signal detector. There are several techniques in finding eigenvalues. However, this research considered two techniques known as eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) and SVD. The research tested the algorithm with a randomly generated signal, simulated Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) standard and real captured digital television signals based on the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard. The SVD based signal detector was found to be more efficient in detecting signals without knowing the properties of the transmitted signal. The algorithm is suitable for the blind spectrum sensing where the properties of the signal to be detected are unknown. This is also the advantage of the algorithm since any signal would interfere and subsequently affect the quality of service (QoS) of the IEEE 802.22 connection. Furthermore, the algorithm performed better in the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environment. In order to use the algorithm effectively, users need to balance between detection accuracy and execution time. It was found that a higher number of samples would lead to more accurate detection, but will take longer time. In contrary, fewer numbers of samples used would result in less accuracy, but faster execution time. The contributions of this thesis are expected to assist the IEEE 802.22 Standard Working Group, regulatory bodies, network operators and end-users in bringing broadband access to the rural areas

Advanced Statistical Signal Processing Methods in Sensing, Detection, and Estimation for Communication Applications

The applications of wireless communications and digital signal processing have dramatically changed the way we live, work, and learn over decades. The requirement of higher throughput and ubiquitous connectivity for wireless communication systems has become prevalent nowadays. Signal sensing, detection and estimation have been prevalent in signal processing and communications for many years. The relevant studies deal with the processing of information-bearing signals for the purpose of information extraction. Nevertheless, new robust and efficient signal sensing, detection and estimation techniques are still in demand since there emerge more and more practical applications which rely on them. In this dissertation work, we proposed several novel signal sensing, detection and estimation schemes for wireless communications applications, such as spectrum sensing, symbol-detection/channel-estimation, and encoder identification. The associated theories and practice in robustness, computational complexity, and overall system performance evaluation are also provided

Analysis and Design of Multiple-Antenna Cognitive Radios with Multiple Primary User Signals

We consider multiple-antenna signal detection of primary user transmission signals by a secondary user receiver in cognitive radio networks. The optimal detector is analyzed for the scenario where the number of primary user signals is no less than the number of receive antennas at the secondary user. We first derive exact expressions for the moments of the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) statistic, yielding approximations for the false alarm and detection probabilities. We then show that the normalized GLRT statistic converges in distribution to a Gaussian random variable when the number of antennas and observations grow large at the same rate. Further, using results from large random matrix theory, we derive expressions to compute the detection probability without explicit knowledge of the channel, and then particularize these expressions for two scenarios of practical interest: 1) a single primary user sending spatially multiplexed signals, and 2) multiple spatially distributed primary users. Our analytical results are finally used to obtain simple design rules for the signal detection threshold.Comment: Revised version (14 pages). Change in titl

Spectrum Sensing in the Presence of Multiple Primary Users

We consider multi-antenna cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks, when there may be multiple primary users. A detector based on the spherical test is analyzed in such a scenario. Based on the moments of the distributions involved, simple and accurate analytical formulae for the key performance metrics of the detector are derived. The false alarm and the detection probabilities, as well as the detection threshold and Receiver Operation Characteristics are available in closed form. Simulations are provided to verify the accuracy of the derived results, and to compare with other detectors in realistic sensing scenarios.Comment: Accepted in IEEE Transactions on Communication

A Cooperative Spectrum Sensing Network with Signal Classification Capabilities

This report describes the design and implementation of the spectrum sensing and signal classification sub-systems of a cooperative network. A sensor blindly receives and calculates the cyclic statistics of a signal decides whether or not the signal represents information or noise. If the signal\u27s statistics indicate the presence of data, the system attempts to classify its modulation scheme. Finally, the decisions of several independent sensors are combined to provide a reliable estimate of the contents of the spectrum of interest. Independently, sensors correctly classify a signal about 60-70% of the time in a low SNR environment. The data fusion module improves this number significantly - especially as the number of sensors increases

SoundCompass: a distributed MEMS microphone array-based sensor for sound source localization

Sound source localization is a well-researched subject with applications ranging from localizing sniper fire in urban battlefields to cataloging wildlife in rural areas. One critical application is the localization of noise pollution sources in urban environments, due to an increasing body of evidence linking noise pollution to adverse effects on human health. Current noise mapping techniques often fail to accurately identify noise pollution sources, because they rely on the interpolation of a limited number of scattered sound sensors. Aiming to produce accurate noise pollution maps, we developed the SoundCompass, a low-cost sound sensor capable of measuring local noise levels and sound field directionality. Our first prototype is composed of a sensor array of 52 Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones, an inertial measuring unit and a low-power field-programmable gate array (FPGA). This article presents the SoundCompass's hardware and firmware design together with a data fusion technique that exploits the sensing capabilities of the SoundCompass in a wireless sensor network to localize noise pollution sources. Live tests produced a sound source localization accuracy of a few centimeters in a 25-m2 anechoic chamber, while simulation results accurately located up to five broadband sound sources in a 10,000-m2 open field

Interference mitigation in cognitive femtocell networks

“A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy”.Femtocells have been introduced as a solution to poor indoor coverage in cellular communication which has hugely attracted network operators and stakeholders. However, femtocells are designed to co-exist alongside macrocells providing improved spatial frequency reuse and higher spectrum efficiency to name a few. Therefore, when deployed in the two-tier architecture with macrocells, it is necessary to mitigate the inherent co-tier and cross-tier interference. The integration of cognitive radio (CR) in femtocells introduces the ability of femtocells to dynamically adapt to varying network conditions through learning and reasoning. This research work focuses on the exploitation of cognitive radio in femtocells to mitigate the mutual interference caused in the two-tier architecture. The research work presents original contributions in mitigating interference in femtocells by introducing practical approaches which comprises a power control scheme where femtocells adaptively controls its transmit power levels to reduce the interference it causes in a network. This is especially useful since femtocells are user deployed as this seeks to mitigate interference based on their blind placement in an indoor environment. Hybrid interference mitigation schemes which combine power control and resource/scheduling are also implemented. In a joint threshold power based admittance and contention free resource allocation scheme, the mutual interference between a Femtocell Access Point (FAP) and close-by User Equipments (UE) is mitigated based on admittance. Also, a hybrid scheme where FAPs opportunistically use Resource Blocks (RB) of Macrocell User Equipments (MUE) based on its traffic load use is also employed. Simulation analysis present improvements when these schemes are applied with emphasis in Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks especially in terms of Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR)