Trends and Applications for Cognitive Radio

摘要

After a decade of cognitive radio, it is time to check the level of maturity and the real gains attained by this technology. Born with many expectations, which is the real status of its deployment? From one side a sensible slowing down of the standardization process is perceived, probably due to economical reasons rather than technical issues. On the other side the demand of spectral efficiency for boosting performances lowering energy consumption is rapidly increasing. The feeling is that the latter driver prevails against the former, and this is proven by an increased scientific and industrial interest on efficient CR solutions. The special issue describes some of the most relevant technological trends and promising applications of the CR idea.