Abstract. As a kind of technology with an application prospect, cognitive network not only can improve the utilization of spectrum resource, but also can relieve the increasingly serious problems of spectrum resources tension fundamentally, and it has become a research focus in the field of wireless communications, and gets more and more attention. This technology improve the utilization rate of spectrum by allowing cognitive users free access to the authorized spectrum, to ensure the spectrum resources can be recycled. In a number of key technologies of cognitive radio, spectrum detection algorithm occupies a very important position, it needs to detect the utilization of spectrum resource in real-time and accurately. This article introduces the concept and development present situation of cognitive network first, elaborated key technology of cognitive network, and made intensive study on the key technology of spectrum perception and the existing problems.