A GNU Radio Based Cognitive Signal Identification and Classification Platform

-In the US the commercial dawn of unlicensed wireless products based on cognitive radio technology is anticipated to begin in 2008 when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will issue rules and regulations for low power operation in the UHF TV Spectrum. Viable products will undergo a rigorous regime of testing to demonstrate their ability to coexist on a non-interfering basis with existing over-the-air (OTA) Digital, Analog TV and non-TV services. High reliability algorithmic processes for incumbent signal identification and classification are core to an effective and dynamic local area spectrum utilization plan. In this paper the authors will describe their experience in developing, implementing, and field testing a GNU radio based cognitive radio platform recently presented to the FCC for testing the viability of reliably detecting and identifying low level North American 8VSB DTV and wireless microphone signals.