Random cogntive radio research ideas

I read a great paper that outlined several potential research issues with cognitive radios:
[1] I. F. Akyildiz, W.-Y. Lee, M. C. Vuran, and S. MOhanty, \NeXt generation/dynamic access/cognitive radio wireless networks: A survey," Elsevier Computer Networks Journal, vol. 50, pp. 2127{2159, September 2006.

1) Latency caused by spectrum handoff
-In the work I've been doing lately with mobile roaming we have been quantifying the latency delay created during a handover between a mobile node and a roadside accesspoint. This delay can be instrumental in causing issues with applications such as video.

A research idea would focus on the latency delay that would be incurred with a cogntive radio when it decides to switch spectrums. Just like with a layer 2 handoff there is going to be some latency when the radio and it's partner or network decides to vacate spectrum and move to a new allocation.

2)Identifying spetrum bands based on combining many characteristics and not just if the spectrum is available or not
-capacity (which is affected by interference level and path loss)
-delay
-link error rate
-holding time
==> selecting the appropriate spectrum for the particular application

3)Spectrum decision.
What are the factors that go into makin a decision in which spectrum to switch to.
-User requirements drive this decision
-data rate
-acceptable error rate
-delay bound
-transmission mode
-bandwidth requirements

4) routing algorithms in an open spectrum enviroment.
-Routing has never had to think about open spectrum environments This adds a new dimension to routing protocols and how they are inter related to spectrum management

5) Transport protocols for xG networks
TCP/UDP for dynamic specturm environments and cooperation with upper and lower layers. Again same as above issue, current transport protocols have not had to consider this issue in the past.

6) Spectrum sensingin OFDM based networks. OFDM seems to be the darling for cogntive radio applications. And sensing i guess can be performed quickly but it is complex, but because there are a large # of carriers the sensing algorithms need to be optimized so the # of samples needed to detect primary users is minimzed within a given detection error probablity.

7) just a conceptual idea about combining Remote Wireless Sensor networks with a cognitive radio network. Sort of pie in the sky and maybe not viable. By nature a RWSN is going to be cheap and easily deployable, low power. stand alone. In contrast a cogntive radio is more complex. Can you tie the two together. What about building a very cheap energy detetctor for a particular block of spectrum. In fact build 10 different ones to cover a range of spectrum and put them on their own RWSN mote. Deploy them around a CR node. Let the motes perform the sensing and send that information to the CR node.