Finding an Individual Optimal Threshold of Queue Length in Hybrid Overlay/Underlay Spectrum Access in Cognitive Radio Networks

In this paper, a hybrid overlay/underlay cognitive radio system is modeled as an M/M/1 queue where the rate of arrival and the service capacity are subject to Poisson alternations. Each packet as a customer arriving at the queue makes a decision to join the queue or not. Upon arrival, the individual decision of each packet is optimized based on his observation about the queue length and the state of system. It is shown that the individually optimal strategy for joining the queue is characterized by a threshold of queue length. Thus, the individual optimal threshold of queue length is analyzed in detail in this work.