An optimization algorithm-based resource allocation for cooperative cognitive radio networks

In cooperative cognitive radio networks (CCRNs), resource allocation can be viewed as a multi-objective optimization issue in terms of channel capacity as well as, among numerous others, the transmitted power, and the QoS limitations. Many researchers have been undertaken to overcome individual problems, not multi-objective problems. In this paper, we investigate multi-objective problems, such as energy consumption, queuing problems, priority levels of traffic classes, fairness, throughput, and user quality requirements. We propose a hybrid optimization algorithm for CCRNs (HCCRN), which enhances the resource allocation. The first contribution of this paper is to propose the load balance enhanced particle swarm optimization algorithm for energy-efficient cluster formation, which overcomes queuing problems. In the second contribution, we consider multiple factors as the input of a multi-factor differential evolution optimization algorithm for prioritizing the traffic levels. The third contribution is that the fair routing path is computed by a modified gravitational search algorithm that enhances resource allocation throughput. For testing purpose, the proposed HCCRN algorithm applied to IEEE 802.11 WLANs. Simulation results show that the users achieve required resources via the proposed HCCRN, thus providing energy efficiency, fairness, throughput, and QoS.