PHY Layer Design for MIH in GNU Radio

Abstract

Handover is an essential process in wireless networks where mobile node changes its access points during the call. Due to heterogeneity in the networks and coexistence of various wireless technologies like wireless fidelity (WiFi), long-term evolution (LTE), wireless interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), etc., the vertical handover is essential for mobile unit. Vertical handover (VHO) happens to be amongst heterogeneous technologies. Media-independent handover (MIH) is an IEEE 802.21 framework that defines the horizontal and vertical handover process amongst IEEE and non-IEEE standards. MIH suggests an intermediate layer in the technology stack just above physical and media access control (PHY-MAC) layer and greatly relies on PHY-MAC for events and triggers for handover. The handover delays and subsequent packet loss decide quality of service in heterogeneous networks. The various triggers received from PHY-MAC layer rely on hardware/software design of underlying technology. The PHY layer of technologies like WiFi, WiMAX, and LTE relies on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). OFDM is an advanced version of multicarrier modulation system with high spectral efficiency, resistant to inter-symbol interference, high data rate, and less complex in design. In this paper, we propose design of OFDM transreceiver in GNU radio from our future perspective of MIH implementation in software defined radio (SDR) platform like Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP).Our design is based on various signal processing blocks and can successfully transfer the text in GNU radio platform.