Resource Allocation in Multiuser Multi-Carrier Cognitive Radio Network via Game and Supermarket Game Theory: Survey, Tutorial, and Open Research Directions

Abstract

In this tutorial, we integrate the concept of cognitive radio technology into game theory and supermarket game theory to address the problem of resource allocation in multiuser multicarrier cognitive radio networks. In addition, multiuser multicarrier transmission technique is chosen as a candidate to study the resource allocation problem via game and supermarket game theory. This tutorial also includes various definitions, scenarios and examples related to (i) game theory (including both non-cooperative and cooperative games), (ii) supermarket game theory (including pricing, auction theory and oligopoly markets), and (iii) resource allocation in multicarrier techniques. Thus, interested readers can better understand the main tools that allow them to model the resource allocation problem in multicarrier networks via game and supermarket game theory. In this tutorial article, we first review the most fundamental concepts and architectures of CRNs and subsequently introduce the concepts of game theory, supermarket game theory and common solution to game models such as the Nash equilibrium and the Nash bargaining solution. Finally, a list of related studies is highlighted and compared in this tutorial. R(1) Interaction among independent users: In CRNs, there are two types of users (i.e., PUs and CRs), also called decision makers, with conflicts of interest, interacting with each other independently, trying to access the same spectrum band. This interaction adds certain obstacles in analyzing the problem of resource allocation in MMC-CRNs. Game theory, in contrast, appears to be one of the most attractive tools for removing these obstacles because it is mainly used to model scenarios where the action of one player impacts/conflicts with that of other players in the network [4]. Moreover, the availability of a common solution in game theory such as the Nash equilibrium and Nash bargaining add another advantage in modeling the problem of resource allocation via game theory.(2) Spectrum supermarket and real supermarket: The behavior of PUs and CRs in allocating their resources in MMC-CRNs is quite similar to the interactions among people in actual markets. Both include the following features: (i) Pricing, where the owner of the spectrum can gain benefits by renting the available spectrum holes to the tenants in the network (i.e., CR nodes). Thus, mutual benefits exist whereby the PUs improves their revenue and CRs enjoy access to the band for their needs. (ii) Auction, where CRs compete with each other in an auction scenario to obtain access to certain bands. The similarities between the concept of CRs and the interaction among people in a real supermarket make the adoption of economics concepts in analyzing the problem of resource allocation in MMC-CRNs another attractive tool.

Efficient Resource Allocation Algorithm in Uplink OFDM-Based Cognitive Radio Networks

“…Furthermore, Pricing-based game theory can be adopted to achieve good network performance in terms of rate maximization without harming the PUs. Moreover, adding pricing scheme to the resource allocation model resulted in simple mathematical optimization problem from which the optimal solution could be easily obtained [12]. However, the main challenge in adopting game and pricing scheme is to prove the point of equilibrium, i.e., Nash equilibrium (NE).…”