IMS Mobility Management in Integrated WiMAX-3G Architectures

The IP Multimedia System (IMS) is a promising solution for converging new technologies with existing networks. The interworking environment and service flexibility that IMS offers to the currently deployed wireless broadband technologies, makes it appealing to users, service developers and network operators. In our previous work a heterogeneous network model based on IMS that integrates the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies and provides guaranteed QoS was proposed. In this paper an analytical model is derived in order to evaluate the signalling cost of mobility management during a vertical handoff.