User-centric QoE-driven vertical handover framework in heterogeneous wireless networks

Abstract

With the advance of wireless technology and popularity of mobile devices, more and more people rely on mobile devices for multimedia services (such as video streaming and video call). A mobile device can be connected and roamed to different networks in heterogeneous wireless networks. The Media Independent Handover (MIH) framework is designed by IEEE 802.21 group to support seamless vertical handover between different networks. However, how to select an appropriate network from available ones and when to execute the handover remain the key challenges in MIH. This paper proposed a user-centric QoEdriven vertical handover (VHO) framework based on MIH that aims to maintain acceptable QoE of different mobile application services and to select an appropriate network based on users' preferences (e.g. on cost). Further a usercentric QoE-driven algorithm is implemented in the proposed framework. Its performance is evaluated and compared with other two VHO algorithms based on Network Simulator 2 (NS2) for video streaming services over heterogeneous networks. The preliminary results show that the proposed algorithm could maintain better QoE and at the same time, take into account user's preference on cost when compared with other two algorithms.

A QoE-maximization-based vertical handover scheme for VLC heterogeneous networks

“…The VHO techniques implemented in RF heterogeneous systems have recently been studied. Liu et al [7] proposed a QoE-driven VHO algorithm based on IEEE 802.21-Media Independent Handover (MIH). The simulation results showed that the QoE-driven VHO algorithm could maintain better QoE of a multimedia service by considering video content and initiated VHO immediately when the QoE of the multimedia service became unacceptable.…”

QoS aware radio access technology selection framework in heterogeneous networks using SDN

“…In the existing literature, many studies focus on the development of RAT selection solutions in HetNets such as [2]- [4], and [11]- [20]. RAT selection approaches can be classified as either distributed [2], [4], [11], [14], and [15], or centralised [3], [12], [13], [16]- [20] approaches. With distributed solutions, a wireless device usually gathers performance related measurements from the network before selecting the most suitable RAT according to a specific metric while centralised approaches rely on the global view obtained from the network controller to decide the best RAT.…”

“…Other studies focus on RAT selection solutions for Het-Nets involving only LTE cells such as macro, femto and picocells [12], [17], and [18]. Finally, the works in [2], [3], [14]- [16], and [19] propose a complete integration between LTE and Wi-Fi going beyond the mere offloading from one network to another.…”