Vertical Handoff Solution on Software Defined Radios for Next Generation Wireless Networks

Todays wireless networks are heterogeneous and comprising of various standards and technologies like 802.11, UMTS, LTE and the forthcoming 5G (Fifth Generation) to be launched by 2020 in India. Subscriber’s data need and all time connectivity is in demand irrespective of underlying network is increased as LTE, WiMax(Wireless interoperability for microwave access) networks offer high data rates at low cost. High data rates are also available in Wi-Fi but with smaller coverage while LTE, WiMAX technologies offer it with large coverage. Due to high mobility of mobile node home network is frequently changed and an uninterrupted service can’t be provided because of the heterogeneous network scenario. To resolve this mobility issue the internetworking between various contemporary and next generation wireless standards is highly required. There are strategies and solutions proposed in the literature since last two decades. This paper focuses on various solutions for heterogeneous or vertical handovers and their comparison on the basis of latency, packet loss, scalability etc. and proposes feasibility of implementation of an optimum VHO solution on software defined radio (SDR) platforms without many changes in the existing framework of networks.