A QoS-based handover initiation algorithm for wireless systems

In this paper a novel handover initiation algorithm is proposed for next ge neration wireless systems, in the presence of a generic packet access proto col. By propel monitoring of the sequence of packets that may be lost due t o channel impairments, handover triggering can be strictly related to the Q uality of Service (QoS) parameter of the source. In particular, a threshold length of the sequence of lost packet is used as a handover criterion for delay sensitive sources. In a long-normal shadowing environment, the algori thm performance is derived analytically. Simulation is also used to validat e the approximations introduced in the analysis. From numerical results it is seen that the novel algorithm can provide better performance than typica l signal strength algorithms used in second generation mobile radio systems . Moreover, the proposed approach is rather general and may apply to a larg e class of sources and access protocols.