Load-Aware Radio Access Selection in Future Generation Wireless Networks

Abstract

In the telecommunication networks the introduction of Next Generation Wireless Networks (NGWN) has been described as the most significant change in wireless communication. The convergence of different access networks in NGWN allows generalized mobility, consistency and ubiquitous provision of services to mobile users. The general target of NGWN is to transport different types of information like voice, data, and other media like video in packets form like IP. The NGWNs offer significant savings in costs to the operators along with new and interesting services to the consumers. Major challenges in NGWN are efficient resource utilization, maintaining service quality, reliability and the security. This paper proposes a solution for seamless load aware Radio Access Technology (RAT) selection based on interworking of different RATs in NGWN. In this paper novel load balancing algorithms have been proposed which have been simulated on the target network architecture for TCP data services. The IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover (MIH) is utilized in load balancing specifically for mobility management, which enable low handover latency by reducing the target network detection time. The proposed method considers the network type, signal strength, data rate and network load as primary decision parameters for RAT selection process and consists of two different algorithms, one located in the mobile terminal and the other at the network side. The network architecture, the proposed load balancing framework and RAT selection algorithms were simulated using NS2. Different attributes like load distribution in the wireless networks and average throughput to evaluate the effects of load balancing in considered scenarios.