Traditionally, handover decisions are made mainly based on the signal strength. However, with the evolution of mobile networks mo\,ing toward a heterogeneous solution, this simple decision mechanism is not enough anymore. To choose the optimal access router among the multitude points of attachment available to the network, there is a need for a more intelligent handover decision mechanism. In this paper we provide a general framework for handover decisions which take into account the context of both the mobile network and the user. Our solution shows how to collect the context, to compile information, and to propagate it proactively. Due to the fast evolving nature of context information, our flexible framework allows one to update the decision algorithm and the context data. We present the architecture and the main components of our proposed implementation based on active networks.
This paper describes the motivation, methodology and implementation approach of the testbed that has been developed in the framework of the EVEREST project. Such testbed is used for demonstrating some of the main concepts addressed within the project, concerning both: Common Radio Resource Management strategies and end-to-end QoS architectures and mechanisms for B3G systems based on the UMTS architecture. The complexity of the interaction between B3G systems and the user applications, while dealing with the QoS concept, pushes to develop this kind of emulation platforms, where algorithms and applications can/must be tested in realistic conditions, not achievable by means of off-line simulations.
Abstract. Context-aware computing can play a major role to improve the services of mobile networking systems. In this paper, we focus on optimizing handover decisions based not only on the signal quality, but also on the knowledge about the context of mobile devices and networks. Since context information and context processing evolves fast, we propose a flexible, integrated approach for context management, which can adapt in several ways. Our architecture encompasses active platforms in network nodes and mobile devices, distributed context management components on these platforms, and service deployment for network services. This flexible architecture is able to actively deploy different handover services. It can manage different kinds of context information and allow mobile devices to be always connected to the most suitable access network. Our architecture is validated in a prototype implementation.
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