ICBCA – Improved Cluster Based Channel Allocation in Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) operate in an overcrowded electromagnetic environment, as the spectrum is shared by various wireless communication technologies. This gives rise to various challenges related to optimized and efficient spectrum utilization. Cognitive radio (CR) has emerged as a solution satisfying this requirement, as it is capable of adapting to the dynamic radio spectrum. Thanks to the deployment of cognitive radio in WSNs, the spectrum may be utilized in a more efficient manner. CR may identify the vacant channels dynamically, allowing the sensor nodes to effeectively communicate with each other. In this paper a clustering algorithm known as improved cluster-based channel assignment (ICBCA) is implemented, forming clusters of CR sensor nodes and then selecting vacant channels for data transmission purposes. Simulation results show that ICBCA outperforms existing clustering algorithms in CR sensor networks.