In this paper, we address the problems of power scheme and time-division bargaining under the mode of cooperative transmission in cognitive networks. Cognitive relay communication has been regarded as an effective method to solve the problem of the coexistence for cognitive users in a primary system. It is understandable that the cognitive users who have helped primary users communicate may be permitted to use the spectrum partly or timely where the problems of identifying the interference level and time division should be taken into account. In the underlay mode, we analyze the impact of dynamic interference temperature and give the relevant presentations in detail for its influence on the secondary user. In the overlay mode, we resolve the key problem of time division, which influences the benefit allocation between participants, by using game theory, which is a helpful tool for solving various problems of resource allocation in wireless networks. Furthermore, numerical results are presented to show that the proposed approach has better and encouraging effects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.