In wireless local area network (WLAN) hotspots the coverage areas of access points (APs) often overlap considerably. Current state of the art optimization models find the optimal AP for each user station by balancing the load across the network. Recent studies have shown that in typical commercial WLAN hotspots the median connection duration is short. In such dynamic network settings the mentioned optimization models might cause many handovers between APs to accommodate for user arrivals or mobility. We introduce a new mixed integer linear optimization problem that allows to optimize handovers but takes into account the costs of handovers such as signaling and communication interruption. Using our model and extensive numeric simulations we show that disregarding the handover costs leads to low performance. Based on this insight we design a new optimization scheme that uses estimates of future station arrivals and mobility patterns. We show that our scheme outperforms current optimization mechanisms and is robust against estimation errors.
The global communication infrastructure has taken an increased relevance for the future global multimedia village. This global infrastructure has suffered from a mismatch between the conceptual models being used, and the effective operational networks deployed to support it. This mismatch is now affecting the much needed developments to support a global village. This paper presents a novel model for structuring communication networks which closely reflects the visions and needs from an operational network. This model shows a path for protocol evolutions for the global communication infrastructure.
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