A Traveling Distance Prediction Based Method to Minimize Unnecessary Handovers from Cellular Networks to WLANs

Abstract

We propose a handover decision method based on the prediction of traveling distance within an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) cell. The method uses two thresholds which are calculated by the mobile terminal (MT) as it enters the WLAN cell. The predicted traveling distance is compared against these thresholds to make a handover decision in order to minimize the probability of handover failures or unnecessary handovers from a cellular network to a WLAN. Our analysis shows that the proposed method successfully keeps the number of failed or unnecessary handovers low.