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.