A New Empirical Formula for Handover Rate in Microcellular Systems

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new empirical formula for handover rate as a function of base stations separation, standard deviation of shadow fading, path loss exponent, averaging distance, and correlation distance. The handover initiation algorithm is based on averaged signal strength measurements using relative signal strength with hysteresis margin approach. We generate the data through computer simulations for the average number of handovers referred to as handover rate, for the practical range of path loss exponent and standard deviation of shadow fading. The proposed formula provides for a practical design tool to optimize the handover initiation performance under varied propagation environments.