An SDN-Based Architecture for Smart Handover to Improve QoE in IEEE 802.11 WLANs

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of the Handover (HO) decision in Wi-Fi environments. Existing HO methods do not meet the requirements of modern applications for mobile nodes due to the lack of intelligence, awareness Quality of Service (QoS) and the Quality of Experience (QoE) requirements of mobile users. We, therefore, introduce a novel architecture that implements a horizontal HO algorithm for Wi-Fi networks, based on Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC). This architecture is based on the Software Defined Networking (SDN) concept, where the Wi-Fi network is controlled centrally and the wireless Access Points (APs) are programmable. In this architecture, the proposed HO algorithm will assist wireless users to find the AP that can best support the application in terms of its QoS and QoE requirements. The use of FLC, which can include QoS and QoE in the HO algorithm, together with the use of SDN, provide promising performance results with respect to the 802.11 standard and another approach proposed in the literature.