Cognitive Radio Sensing Using Hilbert Huang Transform

Abstract

Vast segments of the frequency spectrum are reserved for primary (licensed) users. These legacy users often un-der-utilize their reserved spectrum thus causing bandwidth waste. The unlicensed (secondary) users can take advantage of this fact and exploit the spectral holes (vacant spectrum segments). Since spectrum occupancy is transient in nature it is imperative that the spectral holes are identified as fast as possible. To accomplish this, we propose a novel adaptive spectrum sensing procedure. This procedure scans a wideband spectrum using Hilbert Huang Transform and detects the spectral holes present in the spectrum.