Investigation of Security and Spectrum Management Issues in Cognitive Radio Aided by Machine Learning

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.Cognitive Radio (CR) is an intelligent and adaptive radio and network technology that allows transceivers to sense available frequency spectrum and change its parameters, to switch to available channels (frequency bands) without interruption to other connected transceivers. It is primarily a technology to resolve spectrum scarcity problems using Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA). The potential aspects and applications of Cognitive radio are far superior to DSA alone. CR abilities and CR reconfiguration abilities are essential components for electronic warfare (communications). It provides capabilities for developing and deploying advanced anti-jamming methods, by assisting in the development of advanced intelligent, self-reconfiguration methods to alleviate the effects of jamming. This thesis examines the effects of jamming and other attacks on Cognitive Radio Networks and provides methods and processes to overcome those effects. Cognitive Radio architecture simulation was applied so that policies and their application correlate to Cognitive Radio jamming and anti-jamming issues. Simulation is employed for testing Multi-Armed Bandit and machine learning strategies/solutions as shown by this thesis. The central part of the thesis is the mitigation of jamming outcomes on Cognitive Radio Networks by using proactive steps to increase communication robustness and contentiousness. The thesis utilizes game theory (i.e. the Multi-Armed Bandit problem) and protection using Machine Learning (ProML) design for analysing jamming behavior on Cognitive Radio systems. MAB experiment show MAB approach is effective giants random attack, whereas, the proposed machine learning has its own merits to overcome constant and reactive jamming