Performance analysis of dynamic location updation strategies for mobile users

This paper focuses on the important issue of strategies for tracking users in a mobile communication network. Since the users are mobile, the network must keep track of where the users are, a prerequisite for routing calls to the users. We assume that the mobile users periodically inform the network of their present location. Now, it is very important to decide an efficient location updation strategy that will optimize the overhead in terms of usage of radio spectrum and power, as well as the search cost for a mobile when a call is to be set up. Static location updation strategies often result in poor performance. Three dynamic location updation strategies have been considered, namely, the time-based strategy, the movement-based strategy and the distance-based strategy. A memoryless movement pattern on a two-dimensional mesh topology of cells has been studied. Analytical models have been developed to compare the performance of the strategies. Simulation studies also have been made for performance evaluation.