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Interoperation of different fixed and mobile networks is one key feature of systems beyond 3G, specifically between wireless local area networks, covering hot-spots with high data rates, and mobile cellular systems with full coverage. This comprises the vertical handover, i.e. the handover between systems with different air-interfaces, which are investigated in the paper. In contrast to several approaches that investigate solutions for the IP layer, the focus of the paper is on mechanisms on the link layer to improve the handover, respectively scanning other airinterfaces, measurements and appropriate triggers from the link layer that are considered in the handover decision process. Finally, the benefits for the handover performance are indicated and the potential of the proposed new concepts is highlighted.

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The management of the mobility between radio networks composed of heterogeneous radio technologies, called inter-access mobility management, provides the capability to tie together heterogeneous radio networks into an integrated network. The 3GPP architectures with well-designed inter-access mobility management capabilities are a part of the solution to cope with the growth of the mobile data traffic. This paper reviews the 3GPP architectures to highlight those with these capabilities. In order to evaluate if the mobility management is well-designed into these architectures, the authors describe the phases making up the management of the mobility and design an evaluation grid to assess the integration of these phases into the highlighted architectures. Since the assessment shows the existence of loopholes in the design of the inter-access mobility management, this paper proposes to enhance the 3GPP architectures by implementing a method called Hierarchical and Distributed Handover.

The management of the mobility between radio networks composed of heterogeneous radio technologies, called inter-access mobility management, provides the capability to tie together heterogeneous radio networks into an integrated network. The 3GPP architectures with well-designed inter-access mobility management capabilities are a part of the solution to cope with the growth of the mobile data traffic. This paper reviews the 3GPP architectures to highlight those with these capabilities. In order to evaluate if the mobility management is well-designed into these architectures, the authors describe the phases making up the management of the mobility and design an evaluation grid to assess the integration of these phases into the highlighted architectures. Since the assessment shows the existence of loopholes in the design of the inter-access mobility management, this paper proposes to enhance the 3GPP architectures by implementing a method called Hierarchical and Distributed Handover.