A New Network Architecture for Wireless Communications

Current cellular systems are based on theconcept of the cell. Although the cell allows channelreuse, it has also become a metaphor for channelconfinement and leads to the thorny problem of handoffand call dropping. The problem will get much worseas wireless networks move toward smaller cells andmultirate. A new network architecture for wirelesscommunications is presented in this paper. Thearchitecture — called MAWCC for its main characteristic,MAcrodiversity Without Channel Confinement — hasno ping-pong effect in handoff. Furthermore, itscapacity gain from macrodiversity can be freelyconverted into handoff reduction. The new architecture offers manyoptions to handle mobility which are not possible in aconventional cellular architecture.