Patent ID: 8068826

Claim:
A method of operating a cognitive radio (CR) device to avoid interference with an incumbent receiver, comprising: determining maximum allowed transmit power level of the CR device based on at least one estimated incumbent signal level in a local environment, at least one corresponding estimated transmitter splatter level of the CR device, and at least one co-channel incumbent receiver protection requirement; wherein the step of determining further comprises: applying an offset from the at least one estimated incumbent signal level, said offset determined by the at least one co-channel incumbent receiver interference protection requirement; and selecting a transmit power level that is a minimum of the at least one estimated incumbent signal level; and wherein the step of determining further comprises: applying an offset from the at least one estimated incumbent signal level based on the least one corresponding estimated transmitter splatter level and the at least one incumbent receiver co-channel interference protection requirement; and selecting a transmit power level that is a minimum as determined by the at least one transmitter splatter level; and transmitting with the maximum allowed transmit power level thereby avoiding interference with the incumbent receiver while maximizing transmit power level of the CR device.