Handover in Mobile WiMAX Networks: The State of Art and Research Issues

The next-generation Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks, using the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) as the core technology based on the IEEE 802.16 family of standards, is evolving as a Fourth-Generation (4G) technology. With the recent introduction of mobility management frameworks in the IEEE 802.16e standard, WiMAX is now placed in competition to the existing and forthcoming generations of wireless technologies for providing ubiquitous computing solutions. However, the success of a good mobility framework largely depends on the capability of performing fast and seamless handovers irrespective of the deployed architectural scenario. Now that the IEEE has defined the Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e) MAC-layer handover management framework, the Network Working Group (NWG) of the WiMAX Forum is working on the development of the upper layers. However, the path to commercialization of a full-fledged WiMAX mobility framework is full of research challenges. This article focuses on potential handover-related research issues in the existing and future WiMAX mobility framework. A survey of these issues in the MAC, Network and Cross-Layer scenarios is presented along with discussion of the different solutions to those challenges. A comparative study of the proposed solutions, coupled with some insights to the relevant issues, is also included

Regressive Prediction Approach to Vertical Handover in Fourth Generation Wireless Networks

The over increasing demand for deployment of wireless access networks has made wireless mobile devices to face so many challenges in choosing the best suitable network from a set of available access networks. Some of the weighty issues in 4G wireless networks are fastness and seamlessness in handover process. This paper therefore, proposes a handover technique based on movement prediction in wireless mobile (WiMAX and LTE-A) environment. The technique enables the system to predict signal quality between the UE and Radio Base Stations (RBS)/Access Points (APs) in two different networks. Prediction is achieved by employing the Markov Decision Process Model (MDPM) where the movement of the UE is dynamically estimated and averaged to keep track of the signal strength of mobile users. With the help of the prediction, layer-3 handover activities are able to occur prior to layer-2 handover, and therefore, total handover latency can be reduced. The performances of various handover approaches influenced by different metrics (mobility velocities) were evaluated. The results presented demonstrate good accuracy the proposed method was able to achieve in predicting the next signal level by reducing the total handover latency

Prediction assisted fast handovers for seamless IP mobility

Word processed copy.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-98).This research investigates the techniques used to improve the standard Mobile IP handover process and provide proactivity in network mobility management. Numerous fast handover proposals in the literature have recently adopted a cross-layer approach to enhance movement detection functionality and make terminal mobility more seamless. Such fast handover protocols are dependent on an anticipated link-layer trigger or pre-trigger to perform pre-handover service establishment operations. This research identifies the practical difficulties involved in implementing this type of trigger and proposes an alternative solution that integrates the concept of mobility prediction into a reactive fast handover scheme

A Survey on Proxy Mobile IPv6 Handover

[EN] As wireless technologies have been improving in recent years, a mobility management mechanism is required to provide seamless and ubiquitous mobility for end users who are roaming among points of attachment in wireless networks. Thus, Mobile IPv6 was developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to support the mobility service. However, Mobile IPv6 is unable to fulfill the requirements of real-time applications, such as video streaming service and voice over IP service, due to its high handover (HO) latency. To address this problem, Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6) has been introduced by the IETF. In PMIPv6, which is a network-based approach, the serving network controls mobility management on behalf of the mobile node (MN). Thus, the MN is not required to participate in any mobility-related signaling. However, the PMIPv6 still suffers from lengthy HO latency and packet loss during a HO. This paper explores an elaborated survey on the HO procedure of PMIPv6 protocols and proposed approaches accompanied by a discussion about their points of weakness.This work was supported in part by the University of Malaya under UMRG Grant (RG080/11ICT).Modares, H.; Moravejosharieh, A.; Lloret, J.; Salleh, R. (2016). A Survey on Proxy Mobile IPv6 Handover. IEEE Systems Journal. 10(1):208-217. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSYST.2013.2297705S20821710

Handover Algorithm based VLP using Mobility Prediction Database for Vehicular Network

This paper proposes an improved handover algorithm method for vehicle location prediction (VLP-HA) using mobility prediction database. The main advantage of this method is the mobility prediction database is based on real traffic data traces. Furthermore, the proposed method has the ability to reduce handover decision time and solve resource allocation problem. The algorithm is simple and can be computed very rapidly; thus, its implementation for a high-speed vehicle is possible. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, QualNet simulation is carried out under different velocity scenarios. Its performance is compared with conventional handover method. The superiority of the proposed method over conventional handover method in deciding the best handover location and choosing candidate access points is highlighted by simulation. It was found that VLP-HA has clearly reduced handover delay by 45% compared to handover without VLP, give high accuracy, hence low complexity algorithm

A Novel RSSI Prediction Using Imperialist Competition Algorithm (ICA), Radial Basis Function (RBF) and Firefly Algorithm (FFA) in Wireless Networks

This study aims to design a vertical handover prediction method to minimize unnecessary handovers for a mobile node (MN) during the vertical handover process. This relies on a novel method for the prediction of a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) referred to as IRBF-FFA, which is designed by utilizing the imperialist competition algorithm (ICA) to train the radial basis function (RBF), and by hybridizing with the firefly algorithm (FFA) to predict the optimal solution. The prediction accuracy of the proposed IRBF–FFA model was validated by comparing it to support vector machines (SVMs) and multilayer perceptron (MLP) models. In order to assess the model’s performance, we measured the coefficient of determination (R2), correlation coefficient (r), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The achieved results indicate that the IRBF–FFA model provides more precise predictions compared to different ANNs, namely, support vector machines (SVMs) and multilayer perceptron (MLP). The performance of the proposed model is analyzed through simulated and real-time RSSI measurements. The results also suggest that the IRBF–FFA model can be applied as an efficient technique for the accurate prediction of vertical handover

Seamless handover in IP over ICN networks: A coding approach

Seamless connectivity plays a key role in realizing QoS-based delivery in mobile networks. However, current handover mechanisms hinder the ability to meet this target, due to the high ratio of handover failures, packet loss and service interruption. These challenges are further magnified in Heterogeneous Cellular Networks (HCN) such as Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-Advanced) and LTE in unlicensed spectrum (LTE-LAA), due to the variation in handover requirements. Although mechanisms, such as Fast Handover for Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PFMIPv6), attempt to tackle these issues; they come at a high cost with sub-optimal outcomes. This primarily stems from various limitations of existing IP core networks. In this paper we propose a novel handover solution for mobile networks, exploiting the advantages of a revolutionary IP over Information-Centric Networking (IP-over-ICN) architecture in supporting flexible service provisioning through anycast and multicast, combined with the advantages of random linear coding techniques in eliminating the need for retransmissions. Our solution allows coded traffic to be disseminated in a multicast fashion during handover phase from source directly to the destination(s), without the need for an intermediate anchor as in exiting solutions; thereby, overcoming packet loss and handover failures, while reducing overall delivery cost. We evaluate our approach with an analytical and simulation model showing significant cost reduction compared to PFMIPv6

Vertical Handover Decision Algorithm in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

[EN] With the recent progress in the area of cellular communication the issue of inter cells handover without dropping an ongoing connection with the base station has arisen. In this paper, the focus is on the performance of vertical handover. Various proposed interconnection architectures for vertical handover in heterogeneous networks were studied. Two different algorithms to make the decision on when and to which network perform a handover were considered. In the first of them the decision is based on the received signal strength (RSS). In the second one a fuzzy logic system that uses RSS, bandwidth, battery power and packet loss as the input parameters is proposed. The simulation results show that the algorithm based on fuzzy logic leads to a reduction of the number of handovers and a minimisation of the power consumption as compared to the first algorithm used here and the existing algorithms.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through Grants TIN2013-47272-C2-1-R and BES-2011-045551.Benaatou, W.; Latif, A.; Pla, V. (2017). Vertical Handover Decision Algorithm in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks. International Journal of Internet Protocol Technology (Online). 10(4):197-213. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJIPT.2017.08891419721310