Patent ID: 8320308

Claim:
A method for operating a cognitive radio network comprising: initially assigning a collection of channels, allowed for use by the network, into an available cluster and an operational cluster based on sensing of the channels for incumbent users; conducting channel setup for each channel within the operational cluster of channels; saving channel parameters for each channel within the clusters of channels on a storage medium; selecting a first operating channel from among the operational cluster of channels; transmitting data services on the first operating channel and determining a period of time for transmission (PTT); performing spectrum sensing on each remaining channel within the clusters of channels during the PTT; updating during the PTT the assignments of channels to clusters; switching to a second operating channel from among channels remaining in the operational cluster of channels upon completion of the PTT, resuming transmission of data services on the second operating channel, and determining a new PTT for the second channel, wherein prior to switching to the second operating channel, retrieving channel parameters associated with the second operating channel from the storage medium and instantiating the retrieved channel parameters on the second operating channel and subsequent to switching to the second operating channel, saving channel parameters associated with the second operating channel on the storage medium, and wherein a PTT on a channel is determined initially upon switching to said channel by setting the PTT to be the length of the channel maintenance interval of the network, but upon detection of a TG1 beacon during the PTT, resetting the remaining time of the PTT to be the smaller of the time remaining to the end of the PTT or the maximum interference period of the network.