Second-order cyclostationarity-based detection and classification of LTE SC-FDMA signals for cognitive radio

Abstract

Cognitive radio (CR) was developed for utilizing the spectrum bands efficiently. Spectrum sensing and awareness represent main tasks of a CR, providing the possibility of exploiting the unused bands. In this thesis, we investigate the detection and classification of Long Term Evolution (LTE) single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) signals, which are used in uplink LTE, with applications to cognitive radio. We explore the second-order cyclostationarity of the LTE SC-FDMA signals, and apply results obtained for the cyclic autocorrelation function to signal detection and classification (in other words, to spectrum sensing and awareness). The proposed detection and classification algorithms provide a very good performance under various channel conditions, with a short observation time and at low signal-to-noise ratios, with reduced complexity. The validity of the proposed algorithms is verified using signals generated and acquired by laboratory instrumentation, and the experimental results show a good match with computer simulation results.