IPTV QoS adaptation for multi-homed mobile terminals in a new IMS based architecture

With the emergence of multimedia applications that have real constraints, ensuring a satisfying quality of service to mobile users presents a big challenge in heterogeneous wireless networks. In such environment, the asymmetry of the available resources as well as user’s mobility can cause offered QoS degradation. In this paper, we propose the use of the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) within a QoS adaptive IPTV services in a novel IMS architecture. The multi-homing feature and the partial reliability extension allow improving the network performance and increasing the user satisfaction. In addition, we have proposed an mSCTP based mobility scheme to guarantee service continuity during handover to IPTV users over IMS. The handover decision includes Perceived QoS (PQoS) measurement reflecting the user satisfaction and Media Independent Handover (MIH) information. An analytical study of the time required to perform IPTV adaptation, show that our approach improves the performance by minimizing the delay and maximizing the user satisfaction.     

A forward fast media independent handover control scheme for Proxy Mobile IPv6 (FFMIH-PMIPv6) over heterogeneous wireless mobile network

Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6) is a networked-based handover protocol for the IP layer, i.e., the layer 3 mobility management protocol. In this work, we integrate fast handover and IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover (MIH) Services with PMIPv6 to improve the handover performance over the heterogeneous wireless network environment. Since it may have multiple candidate destination networks to which a Mobile Node can select for handover, it needs to consider not only the signal strength but also the corresponding networking situation for the proper selection of the next network. To reduce the packet loss situation, the multicast mechanism is adopted to forward packets to these candidate destination networks during the handover processing period. In this work, a Forward Fast Media Independent Handover Control Scheme for Proxy Mobile IPv6 (FFMIH-PMIPv6) is proposed based on the aforementioned concerns. Through the simulations for performance analysis, it shows that the proposed FFMIH-PMIPv6 can have better handover performance in terms of handover latency, packet loss rate and throughput.     

垂直交换管理的集合架构

Recent advances in hardware technology have made it possible for mobile devices to interface with multiple networks of different types. In this paper, an IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover (MIH) based handover management architecture containing four modules is proposed and the multihoming technology is adopted to achieve Make-Before-Break vertical handover. Then the paper presents the performance analysis of the architecture and simulation in ns-2. The results substantiate the effi cacy of the architecture in improving the handover performance signifi cantly compared with the traditional Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6) based vertical handover. Besides, we design and implement this handover management architecture in our test-bed. The experimental results in a real network environment show that our proposed architecture can not only support the Make-before-break handover, but also guarantee the scalability because of the modulized design.     

Seamless proactive handover across heterogeneous access networks

Dual-mode handsets and multimode terminals are generating demand for solutions that enable convergence and seamless handover across heterogeneous access networks. The IEEE 802.21 working group is creating a framework that defines a Media Independent Handover Function (MIHF), facilitates handover across heterogeneous access networks, and helps mobile users experience better performance during mobility events. In this paper, we describe this 802.21 framework and also summarize a Media-independent Pre-Authentication (MPA) mechanism currently under discussion within the IRTF that can further optimize handover performance. We discuss how the 802.21 framework and the MPA technique can be integrated to improve handover performance. Finally, we describe a test-bed implementation and validate experimental performance results of the combined mobility technique.     

基于媒体独立切换并提供QoS保证的跨UMTS和WiMAX无线异构网络的网络切换方案

The rapid growth and innovation of the various mobile communication technologies have caused a change in the paradigm of internet access. Wireless technologies such as WiMAX, WiFi and UMTS/LTE networks have shown great potential in dominating the wireless access markets. The existence of various access technologies requires a means for seamless internetworking to provide anywhere, anytime services without interruption in the ongoing session, especially in multimedia applications with rigid Quality of Services (QoS) requirements. The IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover (MIH) working group was formed to develop a set of mechanisms under a standard framework with the capability to support migration of mobile users across heterogeneous networks. Therefore, the implementation of handover is extremely important in the heterogeneous network environment. In order to guarantee various QoS requirements during handover execution especially in multimedia applications, in this paper we propose a novel MIH-based capacity estimation algorithm to execute handover with QoS provision supporting both horizontal and vertical handovers across UMTS and WiMAX networks. Simulation shows that the proposed mechanism achieves lower call dropping rate (highest approximate 3% ) and higher system throughput (average 92% ) than the basic handover method does.     

基于MIH的WLAN/WiMAX宏移动性研究

下一代无线网络将是异构IP网络,为了提供无缝切换服务,结合IETF提议的移动IPv6(MIPv6)协议与IEEE802.21工作组提出介质独立切换(MIH)标准,设计出一种基于MIH异构网络宏移动性的垂直切换方案。在NS-2仿真环境中,验证了此方案的可用性,详细分析了网络切换时延和丢包率,并根据分析结果提出进一步研究方向。     

Trust-Assisted Handover Approach in Hybrid Wireless Networks

In Next-Generation (NG) hybrid wireless networks, Mobile-Controlled Handover (MCHO) is expected to be employed as the handover control mechanism, in contrast to Network-Controlled Handover (NCHO) used in homogeneous wireless networks. As more independent network operators get involved in providing Internet access, roaming mobile users would have to deal with complex trust relationships between heterogeneous network domains. The state-of-the-art handover approaches just take into account Quality of Service (QoS), but ignore the complexities arising from the coexistence of multiple network operators in the NG networks. The existence of a complex trust relationship between networks may lead to unnecessary handover attempts in service roaming. In this regard, this paper introduces a novel approach of dynamically retrieving network trust information, and using it in MCHO. We show how network trust information can be utilised to obtain a 35% reduction in handover delay, meanwhile retain QoS in a handover. The proposed scheme does not need bulk storage in mobile handsets, and can react to changes to network topology and trust relationships dynamically. Analytical results are provided to demonstrate how roaming mobile users make more intelligent and reliable handover if implementing the proposed handover approach in a multi-operator and multi-technology environment.     

Design and analysis of an IEEE 802.21-based mobility management architecture: a context-aware approach

Broadband wireless technologies will soon become an integral part of daily life. In this paper we present the design rationale of a context-aware mobility management architecture for seamless handover in heterogeneous networks. Our proposal is a new cross-layer and interactive approach to seamless handover of users and their services. We present a simple though effective analytical model in typical deployment scenarios in heterogeneous networks with the use of the IEEE Media Independent Handover services. Such analytical model is used to evaluate the resulting handover delay when deploying common mobility protocols in our architecture, such as Mobile IP, Hierarchical MIP, and Proxy MIP.     

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.     

A QoE handover architecture for converged heterogeneous wireless networks

The convergence of real-time multimedia applications, the increasing coverage of heterogeneous wireless networks and the ever-growing popularity of mobile devices are leading to an era of mobile human-centric multimedia services. In this scenario, heterogeneous communications will co-exist and ensure that the end-user is always best connected. The rigorous networking demands of wireless multimedia systems, beyond quality-oriented control strategies, are necessary to guarantee the best user experience over time. Therefore, the Quality of Experience (QoE) support, especially for 2D or 3D videos in multi-operator environments, remains a significant challenge and is crucial for the success of multimedia systems. This paper proposes a QoE Handover Architecture for Converged Heterogeneous Wireless Networks, called QoEHand. QoEHand extends the Media Independent Handover (MIH)/IEEE 802.21 with QoE-awareness, seamless mobility and video adaptation by integrating a set of QoE-based decision-making modules into MIH, namely a video quality estimator, a dynamic class of service mapping and content adaptation schemes. The QoEHand video estimator, mapping and adaptation components operate by coordinating information about video characteristics, available wireless resources in IEEE 802.11e and IEEE 802.16e service classes, and QoE-aware human experience. The video quality estimator works without the need for any decoding, which saves time and minimises processing overheads. Simulations were carried out to show the benefits of QoEHand and its impact on user perception by using objective and subjective QoE metrics.     

Interference and Resource management strategy for handover in femtocells

Interference in femtocells due to neighboring femtocells and macrocells is a major issue of two-tier networks. Handover should be made to reduce interference, if and only if, when resources are available. Otherwise, it will further degrade network performance. Resource management should be made in an efficient manner that will not cause interference between macrocells and neighboring femtocells. Since distance between macro base station (MBS) and femto access point (FAP) is short, therefore, it is very hard to sustain low handover probability when macro user moves from MBS to FAP. We proposed handover algorithm for uplink co-channel interference mitigation that will make handover decision on the basis of time-to-stay and signal to interference plus noise ratio thresholds along with efficient resource management mechanism to reduce number of handovers and also resolve interference problem.

     

Timely Effective Handover Mechanism in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

Next-generation wireless networks should be able to coordinate and integrate different communication systems. It has been a challenging problem to support a seamless handover in these diverse wireless network environments. Link level triggers can provide information about events which can help handover decision and layer 3 entities better streamline their handover related activities. In most conventional layer 2 triggering approaches, a pre-defined threshold for a specific perspective such as the received signal strength is used. This may cause too late or too early handover executions. In this paper we propose a new predictive handover framework that uses the neighbor network information to generate timely the link triggers so that the required handover procedures can appropriately finish before the current link goes down. First we estimate a required handover time for the given neighbor network conditions, then using a predictive link triggering mechanism the handover start time is dynamically determined to minimize handover costs. The handover costs are analyzed in terms of the total required handover time and the service disruption time. The numerical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed method significantly enhances the handover performance in heterogeneous wireless networks.     

Handover management in integrated WLAN and mobile WiMAX networks [recent advances and evolution of WLAN and WMAN standards]

Recently there has been much effort, in both academia and industry, to integrate a plethora of wireless technologies in order to provide ubiquitous broadband access to mobile users. Handover management is still one of the most challenging issues to be solved for seamless integration of wireless networks. This article addresses the integration of IEEE 802.11 WLANs and IEEE 802.16 WMANs, focusing mainly on the handover management aspects. First, we describe architectures, futuristic application scenarios such as the envisioned heterogeneous multihop wireless networks (HMWNs) and moving networks, as well as the related research issues. Second, we present IEEE 802.21, a new emerging standard aimed at providing a framework for media-independent handover (MIH) among heterogeneous networks. Finally, we discuss how the MIH framework can help handover management for the integrated network.     

A Load-aware Scheme for Providing Heterogeneous Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (Het-MBMS)

As the utilization efficiency of network resource arouse the interests of researchers, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) with its inherent nature brings mobile wireless communications enter a new era. On the other hand, Next Generation Wireless Network (NGWN) trends to integrate multiple Radio Access Technologies (RATs) to optimize the overall network performance. In case, handover performance becomes a vital indicator of mobility experience of User Equipment (UE). Contrast to conventional vertical handover, the problem we facing is how to seamlessly handover for MBMS to provide heterogeneous MBMS (Het-MBMS). In order to address this problem, this paper proposes a new functional entity called Media Independent Broadcast Multicast Service Center (MIBM-SC), by the extensions and enhancements of Broadcast/Multicast-Service Center (BM-SC) and Media Independent Information Service (MIIS). Additionally, a network selection and a cell transmission mode selection schemes are proposed. Both schemes are based on a load-aware network capacity estimation algorithm to select the best target network and the best cell transmission mode. NS-2 based simulation validates that the proposed scheme enables to provide Het-MBMS and it improves the handover performance in terms of packet loss rate, throughput, handover delay, cell load, and bandwidth usage and Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR). Meanwhile, the total consumption of downlink power is reduced.     

基于mSCTP异构网络垂直切换性能优化方案

基于mSCTP,通过分析影响垂直切换性能的两个问题,即切换到新路径上的慢启动现象导致的吞吐量骤降,以及由于原无线信号的迅速衰减使得SACK丢失导致的多余重传,引入一种垂直切换性能优化的改良方案mSCTP-IPVHO。通过仿真表明,mSCTP-IPVHO能在一定程度上优化异构网络垂直切换性能。     

A Fast IMS Service Recovery Mechanism for the Handover Over MIH-Capable Heterogeneous Networks

IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) is the core multimedia network in the next generation all-IP environment. It provides access independence for multimedia applications across fixed and mobile access networks. When a roaming IMS subscriber connects to IMS through mobile access networks, handover becomes a critical issue; this needs to be addressed. Since IMS concerns application layer handover for session mobility, the application layer handover takes a long time for recovering the suspended sessions according to the standard IMS session reestablishment procedure. This introduces noticeable service interruption to end users and cannot be tolerated for real-time applications. In this paper we propose a fast IMS service recovery mechanism to shorten the service recovery latency by combining the IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover service and the IRTF Media-Independent Pre-Authentication frameworks. The proposed mechanism performs the necessary IMS registration and QoS re-negotiation procedures in advance of lower-layer handover. Thus it reduces the service recovery latency for suspended services. With parallel design in time, the proposed mechanism is able to shorten overall handover relevant latency as well. Technical examination shows that it is easy to deploy the proposed mechanism in current multimedia service environments.     

A terminal‐controlled vertical handover decision scheme in IEEE 802.21‐enabled heterogeneous wireless networks

The seamless internetworking among heterogeneous networks is in great demand to provide ‘always‐on’ connectivity services with quality of service (QoS) provision, anywhere at anytime. The integration of wireless‐fidelity (Wi‐Fi) and wireless metropolitan area networks (WiMAX) networks can combine their best features to provide ubiquitous access, while mediating the weakness of both networks. While it is challenging to obtain optimized handover decision‐based dynamic QoS information, users can improve their perceived QoS by using the terminal‐controlled handover decision in a single device equipped with multiple radio interfaces. The IEEE 802.21 aims at providing a framework that defines media‐independent handover (MIH) mechanism that supports seamless handover across heterogeneous networks. In this paper, an multiple attributes decision making‐based terminal‐controlled vertical handover decision scheme using MIH services is proposed in the integrated Wi‐Fi and WiMAX networks to provide ‘always‐on’ connectivity QoS services. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme provides smaller handover times and lower dropping rate than the RSS‐based and cost function‐based vertical handover schemes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于双向匹配模型的异构网络垂直切换算法

针对当前垂直切换判决算法存在的单一性,即切换判决时以用户或网络单方面为中心,没有充分考虑两者对切换判决的综合影响,导致垂直切换性能不佳的问题,该文提出一种基于双向匹配模型的垂直切换算法。该算法的主要思想是:首先分别以用户和网络为中心,设计各自的评估模型,用于评估双方对彼此的偏好顺序,并建立相应的排序值矩阵;其次利用排序值信息,基于一对多双向匹配模型对用户侧和网络侧的双向匹配行为进行建模和求解,以获得最优匹配解;最后根据最优匹配结果,进行垂直切换。仿真表明,该文设计的评估模型是合理的,并且所提出的算法能较好地兼顾用户侧的高性价比需求和网络侧的低阻塞率需求。