Patent ID: 8442440

Claim:
A method for a processor to perform spectrum sensing in a communication system, the method comprising: scanning an initial portion of the radio frequency spectrum to collect initial spectrum sensing information; dividing the initial portion into a plurality of first sub-portions of the radio frequency spectrum; selecting a first sub-portion from the plurality of first sub-portions based on the initial spectrum sensing information, to obtain a first selected portion; scanning the first selected portion, to collect second spectrum sensing information; dividing the first selected portion into a plurality of second sub-portions of the radio frequency spectrum; selecting a second sub-portion from the plurality of second sub-portions based on the second spectrum sensing information, to obtain a second selected portion, wherein the second selected portion contains a spectrum hole; scanning the second selected portion, to collect third spectrum sensing information, where scanning the second selected portion includes one of sampling more frequencies within the second selected portion of the radio frequency spectrum as compared to scanning the first selected portion, sampling frequencies which differ by a smaller amount within the second selected portion as compared to scanning the first selected portion, or using a more computationally accurate analysis as compared to scanning the first selected portion; dividing the second selected portion into a plurality of third sub-portions of the radio frequency spectrum; and selecting a third sub-portion from the plurality of second sub-portions based on the third spectrum sensing information, to obtain a third selected portion, wherein the third selected portion contains the spectrum hole.