An initial study of DSA cost and capacity trades under imperfect awareness

Abstract

This paper presents an initial study of imperfect awareness impacts on DSA decision-making and behavior. The investigation utilizes a multiattribute spectrum utility function based on preference and decision theory concepts that enables decision-making under uncertainty. The approach incorporates technical, regulatory, and economic factors into the evaluation process. The analyses explore the implications of imperfect awareness on DSA system behavior in the context of spectrum pricing models and associated trades with spectrum capacity guarantees. Results indicate that DSA systems will prefer fixed pricing models over auction-based pricing for secondary spectrum access unless expected auction costs are lower or significant spectrum benefits are provided. Cost uncertainty associated with auction-based spectrum pricing invokes a risk premium in DSA systems that use a risk averse model. Increases in spectrum quality (capacity gain and/or interference mitigation relief) guarantees may compensate for risk premiums but are found to be insufficient or impractical in some cases. Analytical methods for quantifying the penalties and trades are developed in this paper.