AVL based virtual destination handoff algorithm

One of the drawbacks of reducing a cell's size, which is needed to compensate for the huge demand of cellular services, is an increase in signaling between the mobile unit (MU) and the mobile station controllers (MSC) that is required for general mobility management functions. Among those functions are paging, location updating, and handoff procedures. Efficient and highly reliable algorithms are desired. We note that the new FCC requirements of providing location information of every MU for emergency situations, E-911, could be utilized to improve the previously mentioned tasks. In this paper the output of an automatic vehicle location (AVL) technique based on received signal strength (RSS) measurements from at least three base stations-original and two candidates for handoff execution-is the basis for a new handoff procedure. The AVL output will provide a posterior probabilities of the future direction of the MU. With such information the MU can potentially better determine its final virtual destination, consequently reducing the unnecessary handoffs along the route. Simulation results for different routes and channel's characteristics show a reduction in the number of unnecessary handoffs along the virtual route compared to the conventional approach.