Using Forced Handover as Load Balancing Technique in IEEE 802.16e/WiMAX Networks to Ensure QoS Guarantees
Wireless networks perform handover to enable MS (Mobile Stations) to move from one BS (Base Station) to other BS during a session and without hiccups. Handovers are performed for many reasons such as, MS movement, varying radio conditions and capacity offloading to achieve negotiated service qual...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Mehran University of Engineering and Technology
2011-04-01
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| Series: | Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://publications.muet.edu.pk/research_papers/pdf/pdf92.pdf |
| Summary: | Wireless networks perform handover to enable MS (Mobile Stations) to move from one
BS (Base Station) to other BS during a session and without hiccups. Handovers are
performed for many reasons such as, MS movement, varying radio conditions and
capacity offloading to achieve negotiated service quality. Network congestion is generally
observed at popular business places (like downtowns) and during busy hours, when
load on network increases sporadically.
We propose forced handover, as a load balancing technique to handle such congestion
in IEEE 802.16e networks. Existing approaches like adding more channels, forming
sectors, increasing channel duration and using relay stations etc. to overcome
congestion are not cost effective solutions, in situations when there is episodic increase
in network load; moreover such techniques are always encumbered by the modifications
that involve both licensing and cost.
Our strategy to cater situations of periodic congestion is to enforce BS initiated
handover of MSs at cell boundaries, observing acceptable SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio)
from one of the neighboring BSs with enough capacity and thereby freeing resources
for MSs that cannot be switched from one cell to another (observing high SNR for
being near to BS). The proposed mechanism is tested using OPNET environment
using Wireless Modeler. Performance analysis validates the proposed strategy and its
effectiveness to overcome such sporadic congestion is confirmed through observable
improvement in traffic statistics. |
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| ISSN: | 0254-7821 2413-7219 |