Cellular Network Performance Analysis: Handoff Algorithms Based on Mobile Location and Area Information

  • Authors:

  • Antonis E. Markopoulos;Panagiotis Pissaris;Sofoklis Kyriazakos;Efstathios D. Sykas

  • Affiliations:

  • School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Telecommunications Laboratory, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou Street, Zographou 15773, Athens, Greece. anton ...;School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Telecommunications Laboratory, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou Street, Zographou 15773, Athens, Greece;School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Telecommunications Laboratory, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou Street, Zographou 15773, Athens, Greece;School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Telecommunications Laboratory, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou Street, Zographou 15773, Athens, Greece

  • Venue:
  • Wireless Personal Communications: An International Journal
  • Year:
  • 2004

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Abstract

Mobile world's rapid growth has spurred development of new protocols and new algorithms to meet changing operation requirements such as mobile networking, and quality-of-service support. A key requirement in the bearer capabilities is the handover. The freedom to be able to make and receive calls anywhere, at any time, creating a totally new dimension in human communications has frequently been advertised as the main advantage of new wireless systems. Handovers are a key concept in providing this mobility. It makes it possible for a user to travel from one cell to another while having a seamless connection. Network operators give emphasis to optimize handover, since it is strongly related to dropped calls, network overload and subsequently users' criticism. The ability of a cellular network to perform efficient handovers is crucial to offer attractive services as real-time applications or streaming media as planned in third generation networks. Since signal propagation and pathloss are complex in nature, we can expect unnecessary and wrong handoff executions. Both UMTS and those of the second generation (GSM) systems will require redefined handoff algorithms of active connections as the smooth mobility support and continuous connection are essential issues for obtaining high performance and increasing user satisfaction. In this paper we present a set of intelligent algorithms using the mobile terminal (MT) location information and area awareness to assist safe handoff decisions. The implemented algorithms are validated by means of cellular network simulators that clearly show the impact of these techniques to major system performance metrics.