1aman kumar, sukhpreet kaur ijtc · 2018-12-26 · a review on the vertical handover . mechanism...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTING (IJTC)

ISSN-2455-099X,

Volume 4, Issue 12 December, 2018

IJTC201812002 WWW.IJTC.ORG 155

Performance Evaluation of IEEE802.21-Media

Independent Handover for Heterogeneous

Networks 1Aman Kumar, 2Sukhpreet Kaur

[email protected], [email protected]

1, 2 Department of computer science and Engineering, SUSCET Tangori

Abstract: This paper presents an evaluation based on media independent handover (MIH) that addresses the handover requirements.

This research addresses the analysis of handovers by mobile devices for switching. Simulation experiments are performed for

performance analysis in ns-2. Performance parameters for analysis are throughput, delay, packet loss ratio, speed and number of

nodes. Two scheduling algorithms are selected for evaluation named proportional fair and exponential proportional fair. From

observations it is deduced that overall EXP-PF performs better whereas PF shows higher throughput for a network of high speed

nodes.

Keywords: Media independent handover, PF, EXP-PF and Ns-2.

I. INTRODUCTION

Recently, a number of wireless communication

technologies are migrating towards heterogeneous wireless

networks. Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) based

on the IEEE 802.11 standards, Wireless Metropolitan Area

Networks (WMANs) based on the IEEE 802.16 standards,

third-generation Wireless Wide Area Networks (3G

WWANs), and other technologies are interconnected with

each other to offer the Internet access to users anytime,

anywhere, with better Quality of Service (QoS). Each

technology has its own characteristics that complement

others, so users can select the most appropriate interface

according to their needs. The integration of heterogeneous

wireless networks raises interesting issues such as network

discovery, admission control, security, and power

management for multi-mode terminals. With the growing

importance of those issues, there have been several

research and standard group activities. For example, the

integration of WLAN and 3G networks has actively been

studied by the 3GPP/3GPP2 consortium, IEEE, and ETSI.

However, these solutions cannot be directly adapted to

other heterogeneous networks such as integrated

802.11/802.16e networks. The upcoming IEEE 802.21

standard defines the MIH (Media Independent Handover)

mechanism that enables the optimization of handovers in

heterogeneous networks including both IEEE 802 and non-

IEEE 802 networks. One of the main purposes of the IEEE

802.21 standard is to provide a media independent interface

between media-specific link layers and upper layers such

as Mobile IP (MIP), Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and

applications. Through the media independent interface, the

MIH events, commands, and information services can be

provided to the upper layers.

Media independent handover (MIH) framework has been

proposed in IEEE 802.21 to provide a common interface

for managing events and control messages exchanged

between handoff decision module and different network

devices. That framework is useful to efficiently implement

solutions for inter-technology seamless handovers.

However, conventional context aware handover methods

have not completely utilized MIH services, probably due to

the lack of this framework in truly providing dynamic

context of underlying access networks. The information

provided by MIH information service is intended to be

mainly static, primarily used by policy engines that do not

require dynamic and updated information.

II. RELATED WORK

The authors of Yang et al. (2008) proposed a handover

decision algorithm using MIH services in Wi-Fi and

WiMAX networks with QOS provision. The simulation

results show that the proposed algorithm provides smaller

handover times and lower dropping rate than the basic

vertical handover method.

In Wang et al. (2008), the authors proposed two novel

weighted Markov chain (WMC) approaches based on rank

aggregation, in which a favorite network is selected as top

one of rank aggregation result fused from multiple ranking

lists based on decision factors. These approaches can easily

integrate a priori knowledge and/or human experiences into

vertical handover. Simulation results demonstrated the

effectiveness of the proposed approaches.

Connection Manager (CM) which utilizes MIH services

was introduced in Lim et al. (2009). Two main roles of CM

are supporting seamless vertical handovers and efficient

access point (AP) discoveries. From the experimental

results in the real test-bed, it was shown that the MIH

services can be used to reduce packet losses during a

vertical handover and to reduce the AP discovery time and

energy consumption of mobile nodes.

In Taniuchi et al. (2009) authors discussed how the IEEE

802.21 standard framework and services are addressing the

challenges of seamless mobility for multi-interface

devices. In addition, they describe and discuss design

considerations for a proof-of-concept IEEE 802.21

implementation and share practical insights into how this

standard can optimize handover performance.

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The authors of Márquez-Barja et al. (2010) presented an

overview of VHO techniques, along with the main

algorithms, protocols and tools proposed in the literature.

In addition they suggested the most appropriate VHO

techniques to efficiently communicate in VN environments

considering the particular characteristics of this type of

networks.

In Liu Bin et al. (2010) the authors proposed a novel MIHF

(Media-Independent Handover Function) variant, which is

renamed interworking (IW) sublayer. IW sublayer provides

a seamless inter-RAT handover procedure between UMTS

and WiMAX systems. It relies on a new intersystem

retransmission mechanism with cross-layer interaction

ability providing lossless handover while keeping

acceptable delays.

The authors of De la Oliva et al. (2011) [6] discussed the

main challenges and functionalities required to create a

Media Independence Service Layer, through the analysis of

scenarios within the working group: 1) Wireless

Coexistence, and 2) Heterogeneous Wireless Multihop

Backhaul Networks.

A review on the vertical handover mechanism focusing

mainly on the services provided by the IEEE 802.21 Media

Independent Handover Standard was provided in Khan

Farah M. et al. (2012). The Handover Execution stage is

dependent on the media-specific technology. They also

provide a brief discussion to the various approaches used

to carry out the handover process depending on the

parameters involved in the particular technologies and the

handover decision algorithms.

The authors of Tamma et al. (2012) proposed an

architecture which addresses several challenges involved in

unified heterogeneous network system such as context-

aware handover, load balancing and signaling overhead.

They also presented comparative mathematical analysis of

proposed architecture with respect to the current MIH

standard.

In Khattab Omar et al. (2013) the authors surveyed the

VHO approaches and classifies them into two categories

based on mobility management protocols (MIPv4 and

MIPv6) for which they compared their performances and

characteristics. Finally, through this survey, they

concluded that MIPv4 under MIH is expected to continue

in the future.

A policy-based context-aware handover model based on

the proposed extension was presented in Ghahfarokhi et

al. (2013). A well defined policy format is proposed for

straight description of users’, devices’, and applications’

preferences and requirements. In contrast to traditional

policy-based methods, a multi-policy scheme was

proposed that exploits rank aggregation methods to

employ a set of matching policies in target point of

attachment selection.

To approach a better and enhanced advancement and

improvement for mobility management, an enhanced

handoff technique with combined DSR Flow and

Extremely Trust Opportunistic Routing (E2TX) Protocol

was proposed in Manimaran et al. (2017). The proposed

mechanism of cross-layer is making an intelligent decision

over handoff which transmit the packet information to the

available link obtaining by handoff services and layer

information as QoS (Quality of Service) required

parameter. The proposed technique DSR Flow and E2TX

showed better result in mobility management over the

IEEE 802.21 network; where these two protocols played a

crucial role to select the packet and finding the perfect

shortest path.

In Swapna et al. (2017) the authors performed security

analysis of IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover

(MIH) mechanism for Software Defined Wireless Network

(SDWN). They conducts architectural and functional

analysis of MIH integrated with SDWN interface for

mobility management of the wireless nodes. The outcome

specifies a possible integration with future deployment

opportunities in information exchange of IEEE 802.21

MIH for programmable network devices.

III. MIH MECHANISM

The MIH function at the terminal is continuously supplied

with information regarding the environmental conditions

that are relevant to the access performance of the available

heterogeneous networks. The MIH function receives the

information through dedicated interfaces with the

individual layers of the protocol stack or by exchanging

messages with the Information Services entity positioned

in the home network.

The home WSP of the mobile subscriber provides the initial

MIH policies. A mobile subscriber is typically equipped

with a mobile terminal whose credentials enable its access

to the service provider RAN. The MIH functional

framework also assumes that the mobile terminal includes

a software driver that enables seamless handover

capabilities in compliance with the 802.21 standard.

Another key element of MIH is the initial bootstrapping

mechanism. During the bootstrapping stage the MIH driver

in the mobile terminal is supplied with the initial WSP

policies, which indicate to the mobile terminal the initial

preferred access technologies. The MIH driver in the

terminal is associated with a WSP home network. The

home network is the terminal’s MIH trusted environment

where new policies can be found and updated. As data

services are not free, the home WSP will attempt to collect

most of the revenues associated with a user access. The

home WSP may not own or operate all the access

technologies that is available to a given user. Therefore,

WSP policies will allow accessing visiting networks, or

other service provider’s networks, only when revenue

sharing agreements are in place between the home WSP

and the visited provider.

In visited networks where revenue sharing agreements are

not established between the home WSP and the visited

provider, a user will obtain MIH access services only when

the MIH policies of the home WSP allow it. Alternatively,

the user can turn off the MIH function and directly

subscribe to the available access technology provided by a

visited network. Updates to SLA agreements between the

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home networks and the visited networks will extend and

modify the policies provided to the terminal. Once

bootstrapped, these updates can be obtained by either

accessing the home IS database or by periodic MIH updates

controlled by the home network.

IV. SCHEDULING ALGORITHMS

Packet scheduling schemes aim to maximise system

performance. Performances of scheduling strategies are

measured in terms of system metrics, such as throughput,

packet loss ratio, packet delay, fairness index, and spectral

efficiency (Blough, D. M., 2010). Real-time (RT)

applications are delay sensitive and requires GBR

(Guaranteed Bit Rate) (Piro, G. et. al., 2011). In contrary,

non-real time (NRT) services are less delay sensitive and

require high throughput and low error rates (Brehm, M.,

et. al., 2013). The packet scheduling algorithms being

considered in this work are described as follows.

Proportional Fair (PF)

Proportional Fair is a channel-aware/QoS-unaware strategy

that takes into account both the CQI and user’s past average

data rate while allocating resources to the user. The goal of

this algorithm was to maintain a trade-off between the

fairness and network throughput. It chooses an UE whose

metric M is highest. The priority metric, M is given in the

following equation.

From Eq. 1, it can be realized that this packet scheduling

scheme provides higher priority not only to the users with

good CQI but also to the users with low average data rate.

Exponential Proportional Fair (EXP-PF)

EXP/PF was proposed to support both RT services with

different QoS requirements and NRT data services in an

AMC/TDM (Adaptive Modulation and Coding and Time

Division Multiplexing) system. It is a composite of EXP

Rule and PF algorithm. PF properties ensure the

maximization system throughput and EXP properties

guarantee the delay constraints of RT services. The

scheduling metric, M is based on the service type (i.e.

RT/NRT) of each user.

PF properties provide higher priority to the user with better

CQI but the EXP rule provides higher priority to the user

having more data packets in its buffer. EXP/PF gives

higher priority to the RT service users if their HOL packet

delays approach delay deadline.

V. SIMULATION RESULTS

For performing simulation experiments following

configuration is used.

Table 1: Configuration table for experiments

Name of Parameter Configuration Detail

Flow Type Best Effort Flow

Radius 1 km

Number of Users

Equipment

10 to 50

Simulation Duration 60s

Max. Delay 0.1s

Video bit rate 128kbps

Scheduling Algorithm PF and EXP-PF

Speed 0,3,30,120 m/s

Experiments are divided into following cases:

Case 1: Simulation experiments are performed by varying

Number of user equipments (UE) from 10 to 50 (i.e. 10, 20,

30, 40 and 50) for performance evaluation in terms of

throughput. Here PF scheduling algorithm and Best efforts

flows using parameters are used. Then experiments were

performed for another scheduling algorithm called EXP-

PF. Simulation results are shown in Figure 1.

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Figure 1: Graph for Throughput wrt number of nodes.

Throughput for EXP-PF is more for higher number of

nodes as compare to PF algorithm.

Case 2: In this case Simulation experiments are performed

by varying Number of user equipments (UE) from 10 to 50

(i.e. 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) for performance evaluation in

terms of Delay. Configuration mentioned in Table 1 is

used. Here also PF scheduling algorithm and Best efforts

flows using parameters are used first. Then experiments

were performed for another scheduling algorithm called

EXP-PF. Simulation outcomes are shown in Figure 2

below.

Figure 2: Graph for Delay wrt number of nodes.

There is no difference in delay value for the two

algorithms wrt speed.

Case 3: Here, Simulation experiments are performed by

varying Number of user equipments (UE) from 10 to 50

(i.e. 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) for performance evaluation in

terms of PLR. As in previous case PF scheduling algorithm

and Best efforts flows using parameters are used first. Then

experiments were performed for another scheduling

algorithm EXP-PF. Results are shown in Figure 3 below.

Figure 3: Graph for PLR wrt number of nodes.

PLR in case of PF is more for higher number of nodes as

compare to other algorithm EXP-PF.

Case 4: It is different case as simulation experiments are

performed by varying speed of equipments instead of

Number of user equipments (UE) for performance

evaluation in terms of throughput. Here PF scheduling

algorithm and Best efforts flows using parameters are used.

Then experiments were performed for another scheduling

algorithm called EXP-PF. Simulation results are shown in

Figure 4 below. Here number of nodes is equal to 10.

Figure 4: Graph for Throughput wrt number of nodes.

Throughput for PF algorithm is more as compare to EXP-

PF.

Case 5: It is similar case where simulation experiments are

performed by varying speed of equipments for

performance evaluation in terms of Delay. Here PF

scheduling algorithm and Best efforts flows using

parameters are used. Then experiments were performed for

another scheduling algorithm called EXP-PF. Number of

mobile nodes are 10. Simulation results are shown in

Figure 5.

0

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pu

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PF EXP-PF

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PF EXP-PF

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PLR

Nodes

PLR

PF EXP-PF

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Figure 5: Graph for Delay wrt number of nodes.

There is no difference in delay value for the two algorithms

w.r.t. speed.

Case 6: Finally in this case experiments are performed

w.r.t. speed of equipments for evaluation in terms of

parameter called Delay. Here PF scheduling algorithm and

Best efforts flows using parameters are used. Then

experiments were performed for another scheduling

algorithm called EXP-PF. Total number of equipments

used here are 10. Simulation results are shown in Figure 6

below.

Figure 6: Graph for PLR wrt number of nodes.

PF algorithm is having more PLR as compare to EXP-PF

for high speed.

VI. CONCLUSION

In this paper several experiments were conducted for

performance evaluation of MIH with two scheduling

algorithms i.e. PF and EXP-PF. Total six cases were

analyzed after performing simulation experiments on ns-2

and it is found that overall EXP-PF is giving better results

whereas for high speed PF is showing higher throughput.

There is no difference in delay value for selected

scheduling algorithms and value is low so both can be

considered for MIH.

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1aman kumar, sukhpreet kaur ijtc · 2018-12-26 · a review on the vertical handover . mechanism...

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