Amulti-channel model for initial and handoff accesses in a mobile computing environment

The communication infrastructure of a mobile computing environment can be based on the structure of a cellular/microcellular telephone system or a PCS network. In such a system, the occurrence of handoffs cannot be avoided and when handoffs occur, wireless links held by mobile computers crossing cell boundaries may be forced to terminate. The probability that a handoff access request will result in forced termination has a significant effect on the performance of a mobile computing environment, as does the probability that an initial access request will be blocked. Although some research has been done on initial and handoff accesses in cellular/microcellular telephone systems and PCS networks, the analytical models used in this research are not appropriate for mobile computing, since unlike a telephone, a mobile computer may use several channels at once. In this paper, we develop an analytical model to study initial and handoff accesses in a mobile computing environment. The model is based on a multi-dimensional continuous time Markov chain. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparison with simulation results. We then use the model to find a practical approach to balancing the initial access blocking probability and avarage forced termination probability of a connection in a mobile computing network.This research was supported by the National Science Council, ROC, under grant NSC 85-2213-E-009-063.