IEEE 802.21 Reliable Event Service Support for Network Controlled Handover Scenarios

This paper evaluates, through an extensive simulation study, a flexible framework for centralized network-based handover control across wireless heterogeneous access. For handover decision-making algorithm, implemented in network elements, the approach encompasses events reported by the terminal side (e.g. radio conditions) as well as events reported by the network side (e.g. load change in the access). Based on standard contributions within the IEEE 802.21 Working Group we investigate and design the functionalities required for efficient network to network communication focusing on optimal device configuration and reliable transport. The study verifies that i) the signaling overhead introduced by the proposed framework does not impact negatively handover performance while allowing network reporting and ii) the implemented re-transmission mechanism reduces messages loss even under congestion conditions.