Seamless Vertical Handover Research Articles

Designing a Vertical Handover Algorithm for Security-Constrained Applications

In heterogeneous networks (HetNets), the vertical handover (VHO) is an essential process for mobile users (MUs) aiming to secure ubiquitous connectivity and maintain the highest quality of service (QoS) across various types of radio access technology (RAT), such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), the global system for mobile communication (GSM), and the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS). In the literature, many recent VHO research works have been proposed in which a number of critical issues still arise when performing seamless vertical handover, including VHO packet loss, VHO delay, and VHO throughput. Moreover, the security aspect of triggering VHO has not been carefully considered, particularly when an MU intends to use a payment application. In this paper, we present a comprehensive performance evaluation for a new secure VHO algorithm, taking into account all the above issues, for co-located Wi-Fi and UMTS networks. The simulation results are compared with the media independent handover (MIH) IEEE 802.21 standard, which facilitates the seamless transfer of connection among heterogeneous networks. We show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the MIH standard in terms of VHO delay, VHO packet loss, and VHO throughput in providing uninterrupted connection to security-constrained applications.

Neuro-fuzzy Architecture for Handover Decision Making in Emerging Heterogeneous Networks

In emerging heterogeneous networks, seamless vertical handover is a critical issue. There must be a trade-off between the handover decision delay and accuracy. This paper’s concern is to contribute to reliable vertical handover decision making that makes a trade-off between complexity and effectiveness. So, the paper proposes a neuro-fuzzy architecture that joints the capacity of learning of the artificial neural networks with the power of linguistic interpretation of the fuzzy logic. The architecture can learn from experience how executing a handover to a particular access network affects the quality of service. Simulation results reveal that this architecture is fast, enhances the overall performance and reliability better than the fuzzy logic-based approach.

Integration of Fuzzy Logic and ABC Algorithm for Optimized Network Selection in Heterogeneous Wireless Environment

Background & Objective: Various Radio Access Technologies are integrated in the next generation of Heterogeneous Wireless Networks. The coexistence of various kinds of wireless access networks ensures high service quality (QoS) for the users. Seamless vertical handover plays a significant role in providing ubiquitous access to users. The ability to select the optimal access network out of available access networks decides the comprehensive performance of the system. A novel scheme: Handoff Urgency Estimator and Target Access Network Selector using Artificial Bee Colony algorithm (HUETANSABC) for deciding the necessity of handover and selection of the best network is proposed in this paper. The objective of the proposed work is to choose the most promising access network out of available coexisting networks for enhancing user experience. Fuzzy logic provides reliable results even when the input parameters are random in nature and can not be defined precisely. Artificial Bee Colony is an effective method for searching and optimization. Proposed system combines best of fuzzy logic and ABC algorithm for timely initiation of vertical handover. To gather the required information for handover, services provided by IEEE 802.21 standard are utilized. Proposed integration of fuzzy logic and the ABC algorithm has resulted in a decreasing number of unnecessary handovers. Methods: The effect of varying context parameters is analyzed using Fuzzy Inference System to estimate the urgency of handover. The optimization of a target access network selection process is achieved using meta-heuristic method. Results: Simulation results on MATLAB indicate that the proposed system performs better than ABC and Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) techniques.

An Optimal Network Selection and Efficient Two Level Cluster-Based Routing Mechanisms for Seamless Vertical Handover in Vehicular Networks

Mobile Ad Hoc Network includes the crucial type Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks, (VANET). In this developed work, nodes are considered from vehicles and transmission capabilities are outfitted with its interconnected vehicles forming a network. Roadside equipment is fixed as all vehicles nearby are equipped with fixed equipment thus enabled communications in real-life application of VANET. In existing methodologies, designs of mobility are required by VANET specifically from Vertical Hand Over decision approach. This fails as of failure in links in networks on focusing issues. Thus, in dissemination of networks, routing is mandatory. Hence, our designed work of Effective two-layer cluster based Routing Mechanism is implemented in VANET to diminish the problems of failures in link. So, hybrid model is incorporated with Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO) for choosing best available network done and process of vertical handover are done by ant colony optimization. Specific node for vertical handover is chosen based on the weight value from the hybrid model and deploys the SVM classification. On unsteady shape of topology, Effective Two-Level Cluster-based Routing Mechanism is used for maintenance of route. Initially, two clusters are formed with both links as strong and weak from divided nodes to perform routing among cluster members and the best route is chosen by greedy algorithm. High packet delivery ratio and low end to end delay is attained in this proposed approach from the analyzed results against existing methods.

Bio-inspired Seamless Vertical Handover Algorithm for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

One of the most important factors to implement VANET is by considering the variety of wireless networks available around the city as well as the vehicles traffic scenarios. However, by providing a diverse range of wireless access technologies, it is necessary to provide continuous network connectivity as well as selecting the most suitable network technology and performance. Many researchers have worked on building algorithms for selecting the best network to improve the handover process. However, with high-speed vehicles mobility, the vertical handover process became the most challenging task in order to achieve realtime network selection. This paper proposes a bio-inspired network selection algorithm influenced by insect's behaviour which combines Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The proposed algorithm is applied to process multi-criteria parameters to evaluate the best available network and then execute the handover process seamlessly. The results demonstrate the benefits of the proposed Multi-Criteria ABC-PSO method by reducing the handover decision delays by 25%. It gives the optimum performance in terms of network selections and reduces the handover latency by 14.5%. The proposed algorithm also reduces the number of unnecessary handovers by 48% for three different mobility scenarios based on traffic environments (highway, urban and traffic jam).

5GAuNetS: an autonomous 5G network selection framework for Industry 4.0

The megatrends within the industrial automation and global value chains expedited the adoption of “Industry 4.0 enabled by 5G” to comprehend extremely flexible and smart production systems. The pivotal challenge for the smart manufacturing leveraging on 5G is the seamless vertical handover and connectivity to a suitable network in accordance with the determined application. The existing literature reports numerous strategies to ensure “always best connected” paradigm but they suffer from a couple of limitations. The amateurish approach employed in these strategies propelled the development of an autonomous network selection model exploiting fuzzy analytical hierarchical process consolidated with the novel extended efficacy coefficient method-based Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. This article addresses the vertical handover execution under the circumstances of four typical 5G application scenarios, respectively, i.e. Tactile Internet, Bitpipe, Internet of Things and Internet Access for Regional Areas. The analytical results validated through the extensive simulation revealed that the proposed hybrid scheme is effective and efficient compared to other methods in terms of avoiding the unnecessary handover and the ranking abnormality issues.

SFP-based vertical handover with MIH services for integrated Wi-Fi and WIMAX networks

The seamless vertical handover among different wireless systems are required to offer high quality services. It is attained by the developing standard IEEE 802.21 media independent handover (MIH) services. In this paper, single AP scanning, fast ranging and preregistration (SFP) approach is used in which the target AP is chosen based on the proposed idle capacity and signal strength with hybrid PS-GS algorithm. After selecting the target base station (BS), the handover decision algorithm based on SINR enabled with utilising RSSI, available bandwidth and monetary cost. In the proposed vertical handover scenario, the MAC overhead is minimised by reducing the scanning time. The efficiency of the proposed approach is evaluated in terms of scanning time, handover interruption time, handover latency, packet loss, packet delay and throughput. When compared with the existing handover procedures, better results obtained in the proposed handover procedure. The outcomes demonstrate that the hybrid algorithm retains a maximum capacity to escape from local optimums with faster convergence than the standard PSO and GSA.

A Quality-Aware Fuzzy-Logic-Based Vertical Handover Decision Algorithm for Device-to-Device Communication

Device-to-device (D2D) communication is expected to play a significant role in the fifth-generation (5G) networks. To support seamless mobility and service continuity, the device(s) undergoing D2D communication should be handed over to the best access network among all the available wireless access networks. A seamless vertical handover (VHO) across the heterogeneous wireless networks is the key enabling solution for achieving the seamless service continuity and mobility. The VHO algorithm should be intelligent, and the decisions should also consider the quality requirements other than the conventional received signal strength (RSS). In this work, a two-stage fuzzy-logic-based VHO decision algorithm is developed to select suitable access network based on the quality-of-service requirements. The quality parameters like data rate and latency are given as the fuzzy inputs along with RSS. The resource availability check is also carried out for the target network, which makes the decision more intelligent. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme offers better performance than the traditional multi-attribute decision-making schemes.

Intelligent Technique for Seamless Vertical Handover in Vehicular Networks

Seamless mobility is a challenging issue in the area of research of vehicular networks that are supportive of various applications dealing with the intelligent transportation system (ITS). The conventional mobility management plans for the Internet and the mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is unable to address the needs of the vehicular network and there is severe performance degradation because of the vehicular networks’ unique characters such as high mobility. Thus, vehicular networks require seamless mobility designs that especially developed for them. This research provides an intelligent algorithm in providing seamless mobility using the media independent handover, MIH (IEEE 802.21), over heterogeneous networks with different access technologies such as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), as well as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) for improving the quality of service (QoS) of the mobile services in the vehicular networks. The proposed algorithm is a hybrid model which merges the biogeography-based optimization or BBO with the Markov chain. The findings of this research show that our method within the given scenario can meet the requirements of the application as well as the preferences of the users.

An Experimental Cross-Layer Approach to Improve the Vertical Handover Procedure in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

Users of next generation wireless devices will be likely to move across a heterogeneous network environment. Thiswill give them the possibility to always exploit the best connection to the global Internet. In order to keep a seamless connection, the handover between different access technologies, also known as vertical handover, must be as smooth as possible. The current evolution of network architectures toward an all-IP core favours the use of the Mobile IPv6 protocol to handle such handovers. However, this protocol still presents several drawbacks, mainly related to the assumption of static devices and wired connections. Hence we have designed and implemented a software module that exploits information from the lower layers (e.g. physical) to extend the capabilities of Mobile IPv6 to wireless environments. We have then evaluated both the plain Mobile IPv6 and our proposed implementation over an experimental testbed. The outcome of the assessment proves the effectiveness of our solution and reveals the possibility to perform a seamless vertical handover in heterogeneous wireless networks.

An integrated MIH-FPMIPv6 mobility management approach for evolved-packet system architectures

Following the Always Best Connection (ABC) principle of the 4th generation wireless networks users of mobile services would be provided with connectivity to the best access technology all the time. In such a context, mobile devices are equipped with multiple radio interfaces allowing connectivity to the most suitable network environment based on users’ requirements and operators' policies. Seamless vertical handover plays the key role for mobility across various access networks offering service continuity to users. The Evolved Packet core (EPC) network architecture of the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) provides optimized mechanisms to achieve Vertical Handover (VHO) using the Fast Proxy Mobile IPv6 (FPMIPv6) mobility management standard. However the EPC solution fails to provide seamless handover for real time applications due to lack of information when the source and the target networks are on different domains as well as due to existing limitations in FPMIPv6. The IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover (MIH) framework is another promising standard which facilitates the VHO procedures by providing generic interfaces and primitives independent of the access technology. In this paper a seamless handover solution is proposed between 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) and non-3GPP wireless access technologies which includes several signaling enhancements complementing the functionalities of the EPC network of the LTE-A with the IEEE 802.21 standard. Also an improved FPMIPv6 scheme is included, addressing the identified shortcomings of the protocol. The presented architecture provides low latencies, supporting services QoS constraints, as well as user requirements and provider policies. The proposed framework is compared with the existing EPC approach while a comparative analysis and evaluation of the enhanced FPMIPv6 is provided.

An Overview on ANS Methods: Who Is a Dominant for the Seamless Vertical Handover Decision through Heterogeneous Networks

An Overview on ANS Methods: Who Is a Dominant for the Seamless Vertical Handover Decision through Heterogeneous Networks

Performance analysis of IMS based LTE and WIMAX integration architectures

In the current networking field many research works are going on regarding the integration of different wireless technologies, with the aim of providing uninterrupted connectivity to the user anywhere, with high data rates due to increased demand. However, the number of objects like smart devices, industrial machines, smart homes, connected by wireless interface is dramatically increasing due to the evolution of cloud computing and internet of things technology. This Paper begins with the challenges involved in such integrations and then explains the role of different couplings and different architectures. This paper also gives further improvement in the LTE and Wimax integration architectures to provide seamless vertical handover and flexible quality of service for supporting voice, video, multimedia services over IP network and mobility management with the help of IMS networks. Evaluation of various parameters like handover delay, cost of signalling, packet loss,, is done and the performance of the interworking architecture is analysed from the simulation results. Finally, it concludes that the cross layer scenario is better than the non cross layer scenario.

Handover Optimization Based on Media Independent Handover in New Networks NGWN

One of the challenging issues in Next Generation Wireless Network (NGWN) is achieving seamless Vertical Handover (VHO) while roaming between different technologies such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi- Fi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE). F or that the telecommunication operators will be required to develop a strategy for interoperability of these different types of existing network to give the best connection anywhere anytime for the Mobile Users (MUs). To full these requirements we propose a new VHO approach that based on loose coupling internetworking in conjunction with Mobile IPv4 ( MIPv4) under Media Independent Handover (MIH). Our objective is develop a strategy for interoperability of different technologies and optimized the VHO decision. Our proposed approach provides more exhaustive, high accurate and better performance compared with the approaches proposed in the literature.

An Energy-Efficient Mobile-Controlled Vertical Handover Management for Real Time Services

Multiple wireless access technology has been embedded into a single mobile device as a fundamental feature, aiming to give end users ubiquitous access at any time. To allow the users to enjoy the ubiquitous connectivity, the mobile device has to consume higher energy for the simultaneous activation of multiple wireless interface and the continuous connectivity. In addition, a seamless vertical handover between the access technologies is a mandatory requirement to insure the quality, reliability and continuity of real time services. In this paper, the continuity of real time services as well as energy saving for mobile devices has been taken into account. The conceptual idea is that whenever traffic rate is lower than a threshold it will be smoothly handed over to a low energy consumption technology, i.e., Bluetooth. When the traffic exceeds the limitation of Bluetooth bandwidth, it will be handed over to a wider bandwidth technology, i.e., Wi-Fi. In the considered scenarios, the technologies are not interconnected; hence, the vertical handover management must be fully controlled by the mobile devices. The performance of the system including energy saving and maintaining the continuity of real time services has been evaluated by direct measurements in a real testbed.

Vertical Handover Solutions Over LTE-Advanced Wireless Networks: An Overview

The convergence of multitude radio access networks forming a cluster of seamless heterogeneous wireless environment has made the wireless communication industry meet the paradigm of always best connected, where various mobile devices are able to access numerous types of applications and services. However, achieving such landmarks could not be possible without difficulties which this paper tries to highlight some of the technical challenges underlying seamless vertical handover. It provides a general overview of the mobility management process including a brief on multi-homing mobility protocol and focuses on vertical handover decision making techniques, hi ghlighting some radio interface standar and analysed some handover approaches. The paper proposes fast intelligent inter-layer network selection as a new handover approach to select the best network among the candidate networks, where Quality of Service, handover delay and improved data bit rates are set to be achieved.

Simulation of Performance Execution Procedure to Improve Seamless Vertical Handover in Heterogeneous Networks

One challenge of wireless networks integration is the ubiquitous wireless access abilities which provide the seamless handover for any moving communication device between different types of technologies (3GPP and non-3GPP) such as Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Long Term Evolution (LTE). This challenge is important as Mobile Users (MUs) are becoming increasingly demanding for services regardless of technological complexities associated with it. To fulfill these requirements for seamless Vertical Handover (VHO) two main interworking architectures have been proposed by European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) for integration between different types of technologies; namely, loose and tight coupling. On the other hand, Media Independent Handover IEEE 802.21 (MIH) is a framework which has been proposed by IEEE Group to provide seamless VHO between the aforementioned technologies by utilizing these interworking architectures to facilitate and complement their works. The paper presents the design and the simulation of a Mobile IPv4 (MIPv4) based procedure for loose coupling architecture with MIH to optimize performance in heterogeneous wireless networks. The simulation results show that the proposed procedure provides seamless VHO with minimal latency and zero packet loss ratio.

An overlay and distributed approach to node mobility in multi-access wireless networks

Nowadays many manufacturers are building mobile devices with multiple interfaces. Thus, users have access to different types of wireless access networks, which often, as for WLAN and cellular systems, coexists independently. The challenge is to make such multiple access networks to cooperate to have ubiquitous access and enhanced user quality of service. In this paper we present a scheme to allow inter-technology mobility by the introduction of an overlay network, which works on top of current (and future) networks. The proposed architecture controls all the aspect related to the mobility management: mobile node localization, handover decision and execution. The approach is distributed: it is the mobile node that decides which network to use, based on the offered service quality and the cost of the communication of the available networks, and triggers the handover execution directly to the corresponding host, using optimized SIP-based procedures. The overlay network copes with the mobile node localization. We implemented our solution in the laboratory to prove its validity and to test performance using real equipment. We also simulated the scheme using ns-3 to extend the evaluation to large scale deployments. In both test environments, our solution demonstrates high accurateness in selecting the network with the best quality as well as in supporting seamless vertical handover.

A Survey on Media Independent Handover (MIH) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

One challenge of wireless networks integration is to provide ubiquitous wireless access abilities and seamless handover for mobile communication devices between different types of technologies (3GPP and non-3GPP), such as Global System for Mobile Communication, Wireless Fidelity, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System and Long Term Evolution. This challenge is critical as mobile users are becoming increasingly demanding for services regardless of the technological complexities associated with them. To fulfil these requirements for seamless vertical handover (VHO) two main interworking frameworks have been proposed by IEEE Group and 3GPP for integration between the aforementioned technologies; namely, Media Independent Handover IEEE 802.21 and IP Multimedia Subsystem, where each of them requires mobility management protocol to complement its work, such as Mobile IP and Session Initiation Protocol, respectively. Various VHO approaches have been proposed in the literature based on these frameworks. In this paper, we survey the VHO approaches proposed in the literature and classify them into four categories based on these frameworks for which we present their objectives and performances issues.

Enhancements to FPMIPv6 for improved seamless vertical handover between LTE and heterogeneous access networks

Fast handovers for proxy mobile IPv6 (FPMIPv6) was created to reduce packet-delay that occurs during proxy mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6) handover. Based on vertical handover (VHO) experiments conducted between Long Term Evolution (LTE) and heterogeneous accesses over the evolved packet core (EPC) using FPMIPv6, it was recognized that consistently reliable seamless VHO operations were difficult to accomplish due to limitations in FPMIPv6. Noticeably, VHO performance degradation resulted from the serving network (SN) lacking information of the target network (TN) when the TN is a heterogeneous protocol domain, packet congestion and loss problems occurring on specific network gateway interfaces, and also from using long packet-forwarding paths. In this article, an enhanced FPMIPv6 technique is proposed to solve these problems and improve the VHO operation by using shorter data-paths and improved coordination of buffered packet-forwarding and TN switching, which results in a significantly reduced packet-delay.