Extended Vertical Handoff Decision in Next Generation Wireless Networks

Abstract

In the vision of 4G wireless communications, it is requisite to provide seamless mobility support across heterogeneous access networks. The benefit of heterogeneous network is that, devices can connect to different wireless networks without interruption of service while the network is being switched. The problem in heterogeneous environments is that transition between diverse types of access technologies can lead to reduced performance, mainly due to incompatibility problems. Seamless mobility can be achieved by enabling mobile terminals to conduct seamless handovers across diverse access networks, that is, seamlessly transfer and continue their ongoing sessions from one access network to another. One major challenge in cellular/WLAN internetworking is how to take advantage of the wide coverage and almost universal roaming support of cellular networks and the high data rates of WLAN. Many issues should be carefully addressed to achieve seamless interworking, such as mobility management, resource allocation, call admission control, security and billing. The vertical handoff requirements are potential of the network, network cost, handoff latency, network conditions, power consumption and user's preference. These must be considered during vertical handoff. In this research paper a new vertical handoff decision based on ARM & AI Techniques is designed. A refined, intelligent Associative Rule Mining (ARM) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technique is used to execute the vertical handoff intelligent mechanism in fourth generation wireless networks to produce an effective service which reduces the handoff delay and complexity.