Collaborative cross-layer framework for handover decision in overlay networks

Up to date the vertical handover (VHO) management across heterogeneous wireless networks has received large attention in recent researches. Independent decisions on different protocol layers responding to the same event may lead to un-optimal operation during VHO over heterogeneous wireless networks. There is demand for solutions capable of managing handovers while ensuring sufficient Quality of Experience for running applications with low signaling overhead. However, user perception has not been handled intensively in context-aware decision algorithms when the Mobile Node undergoes handover. The proposed cross-layer decision framework integrates a set of Quality of Experience based decision-making modules to provide the ability for upper layers to adapt dynamically to fluctuating environmental conditions and optimize the access selection process using a unified signaling messages. This middleware solution manage the signaling coordination actions based on feedback triggers and various policies to reduce false handover indications, compensate for link-layer fluctuations and minimize the impact of mobility. Numerical results highlight enhancements brought by the proposed framework over reference frameworks in terms of perceived quality, handover initiation time and delay constraints.