SIP-based proactive and adaptive mobility management framework for heterogeneous networks

• Published in: Journal of network and computer applications Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 771 - 792
• Main Authors: Yee, Y.C., Choong, K.N., Low, Andy L.Y., Tan, S.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Broadcasting. Videocommunications. Audiovisual; Circuit properties; Coding, codes; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Information, signal and communications theory; Network assisted handover; Proactive and Adaptive Handover system; Seamless handover; Signal and communications theory; Signal convertors; SIP-based client-initiated handover; Switching and signalling; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Videocommunications (networks and services); SIP-based client-initiated handover; Proactive and Adaptive Handover system; Seamless handover; Network assisted handover; Performance evaluation; Mobile radiocommunication; Adaptive system; Wireless telecommunication; Teletraffic; Videoconference; Switching; Degradation; Optimal decision; Codec; Audioconference; Handover; Delay time; Load balancing; Traffic congestion; Mobility management; Damaging
• ISSN: 1084-8045; 1095-8592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnca.2007.09.002

In this paper, we present and evaluate the performance of a mobility management system called the Proactive and Adaptive Handover (PAHO) system. PAHO is an application-level approach that uses SIP to manage client-initiated connection handoff across heterogeneous networks based on the IEEE 802.21 framework with designated user/configuration policy. Unlike conventional systems which make sub-optimal decision when managing connection handoff due to limited awareness of the relevant context for the application/service being delivered, PAHO defines proper interface to interact with the application as to determine when and to where the handoff and/or codec switching should take place in the event of network performance degradation. The results showed that using the PAHO approach on an audio/video conferencing session helps reducing the overall handover delay from 10.766 s (on non-PAHO system) down to at least 288 ms, and slowing down the degradation of MOS value throughout the entire experiment in the event of signal degradation as well as network congestion. It is also shown that load balancing among the access points (AP) could be achieved with an improved Information Server (IS).