Stochastic approach for channel selection in cognitive radio networks using optimization techniques

Secondary Users (SU) are guided by Cognitive Radio Device in identifying a channel licensed to Primary Users (PU) when it is free. Whenever PU arrives, SU shall vacate and search for the alternate band by a conditional handoff. Existing handoff methods reduce the network’s efficiency. The proposed stochastic approach under hybrid Spectrum Hand-off is (SHO) employing the Invasive Weed Optimization (IWO) algorithm thus increasing the SHO efficiency in CR Networks. The proposed Centralized Cognitive Device monitors load balancing, minimizes handoff delay as well as the SU’s service time, conserves energy, speeds up the data transmission, supports the Internet of Things, multimedia applications including audio, live video streaming and still images over resource constrained WSNs. This algorithm is compared with the existing Genetic algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization. The channel selection accuracy of the proposed IWO method is found to be 97.8% and it outperforms conventional methods. Besides, the pre-emptive resume priority M/G/1 queuing model is also utilized. This paper presents a complete system model along with a detailed study of its parameters proving the technique’s effectiveness.