In this paper, we present a multi-user resource allocation framework using
fragmented-spectrum synchronous OFDM-CDMA modulation over a frequency-selective
fading channel. In particular, given pre-existing communications in the
spectrum where the system is operating, a channel sensing and estimation method
is used to obtain information of subcarrier availability. Given this
information, some real-valued multi-level orthogonal codes, which are
orthogonal codes with values of {±1,±2,±3,±4,...}, are provided
for emerging new users, i.e., cognitive radio users. Additionally, we have
obtained a closed form expression for bit error rate of cognitive radio
receivers in terms of detection probability of primary users, CR users' sensing
time and CR users' signal to noise ratio. Moreover, simulation results obtained
in this paper indicate the precision with which the analytical results have
been obtained in modeling the aforementioned system.Comment: 6 pages and 3 figure