Methods for the automatic recognition of digital modulation of signals in cognitive radio systems

This paper considers one of the problematic issues of creating radio systems based on cognitive radio technology, viz., automatic recognition of the digital-modulation formats of radio signals. In accordance with the recommendations of the E2R and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) consortium, cognitive radio systems have the ability to modulate/demodulate signals in all frequency bands and in all modes of modulation. This process should be performed automatically, according to the current technical capabilities of the available communication system, the requirements for the quality of communication, and different external conditions. This article provides an analysis of the promising methods of automatic recognition of digitally modulated radio signal formats, viz., using the shape of the phase constellation, using the distribution difference of instantaneous phases, and using high-order cumulants. According to the results of the analysis, we propose methods of recognition that are based on cumulant analysis for cognitive radio systems. It is proposed that the decision-making device be an artificial neural network.