Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A flexible UMTS/WLAN architecture for improved network performance

  • Published:
Wireless Personal Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Current trends in cellular telecommunications suggest the incorporation of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) as supplementary access technologies into the existing cellular infrastructure. Overlay network architectures are expected to improve both service provision and resource utilization under the condition that sophisticated architectural options are followed. Many proposals suggest that all active connections be handled through the same access network technology. However, this is not believed to be efficient in a heterogeneous environment. Therefore, a mechanism that allows each connection of a terminal to be served by different radio access technology is introduced. Based on a tight coupling architecture for interworking between Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and WLANs, the proposed scheme combines a sophisticated decision mechanism with flexible connection management in a way that ensures seamless service continuity during handover. The performance of the system is evaluated using a detailed simulation model and compared against existing architectures. Simulation results indicate an improvement in parameters such as connection and handover blocking probabilities, which justifies the enhancement in the overall usage of network resources when connections are handled separately.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alexiou, A., & Bouras, C. (2006). Multicast in UMTS: Evaluation and recommendations. International Journal of Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing, Wiley InterScience, doi: 10.1002/wcm.464.

  2. Arkko, J., & Haverinen, H. (2006). Extensible authentication protocol method for 3rd generation authentication and key agreement (EAP-AKA), RFC 4187.

  3. Balasubramaniam, S., & Indulska, J. (2003). Vertical handover supporting pervasive computing in future wireless networks. Computer Communication Journal, Special Issue on 4G/Future Wireless networks. 27/8, 708–719.

  4. Ferrús, R. et al. (2005). Vertical handover support in coordinated heterogeneous radio access networks. In Proceesings of the IST mobile summit 2005, Dresden (Germany).

  5. Hui S. and Yeung K. (2003). Challenges in the migration to 4G mobile systems. IEEE Communications Magazine 41(12): 54–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. IEEE 802.11e-2005, “Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications—Amendment 8: Medium Access Control (MAC) Quality of Service Enhancements,” ISBN: 0-7381-4772-9, 2005.

  7. Inoue, M., Mahmud, K., Murakami, H., Hasegawa, M., & Morikawa, H. (2003). Seamless handover using out-of-band signaling in wireless overlay networks. In Proceesings of the WPMC’03, Yokosuka, Japan.

  8. Jaseemuddin, M. (2003). An Architecture for integrating UMTS and 802.11 WLAN networks. In Proceedings of IEEE symposium on computers and communications (ISCC 2003), Antalya, Turkey, pp. 716–723.

  9. Kaloxylos, A., Lampropoulos, G., Passas, N., & Merakos, L. (2006). A flexible mechanism for service continuity in 4G environments. Elsevier Computer Communications Journal, Special Issue on “End-to-end QoS Provision Advances,” 29(6), 669–798

  10. Lampropoulos G., Kaloxylos A., Passas N. and Merakos L. (2005). Handover management architectures in integrated WLAN/cellular networks. IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials 7(4): 30–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Liu, H., Bhaskaran, H., Raychaudhuri, D., & Verma, S. (2003). Capacity analysis of a cellular data system with 3G/WLAN interworking. In Proceedings of the IEEE 58th vehicular technology conference (VTC’F03), Dallas, USA, Vol. 3, 1817–1821.

  12. Ma L., Yu F., Leung V.C.M. and Randhawa T. (2004). A new method to support UMTS/WLAN vertical handover using SCTP. IEEE Wireless Communications 11(4): 44–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. McNair J. and Zhu F. (2004). Vertical handoffs in fourth generation (4G) multi-network environments. IEEE Wireless Communications Magazine 11(3): 8–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Pinto P., Bernardo L. and Sobral P. (2006). Seamless continuity of PS-services in WLAN/3G interworking. Elsevier Computer Communications Journal 29(8): 1055–1064

    Google Scholar 

  15. Salkintzis A., Fors C. and Pazhyannur R. (2002). WLAN—GPRS integration for next-generation mobile data networks. IEEE Wireless Communications 9(5): 112–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Salkintzis, A., Passas, N., & Skyrianoglou, D. (2006). Seamless voice call continuity in 3G and WLANs. In Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Wireless Personal Multimedia Communications (WPMC), San Diego, CA.

  17. Stewart, R., & Xie, Q. (2001). Stream control transport protocol, RFC 2960.

  18. The Network Simulator - ns-2, http://www.isi.edu/ nsnam/ns/.

  19. Wallenius, E., Hämäläinen, T., Nihtilä, T., & Luostarinen, K. (2003). 3G interworking with WLAN QoS 802.11e. In Proceedings of the IEEE 58th vehicular technology conference (VTC’F03), Dallas, USA, Vol. 3, pp. 1803–1806.

  20. Wang X.G. (2005). An adaptive QoS framework for integrated cellular and WLAN networks. Elsevier Computer Networks Journal 47(2): 167–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ylitalo, J. et al. (2003). Dynamic network interface selection in multihomed mobile hosts. In Proceedings of the 36th Hawaii international conference on system sciences, Hawaii, USA.

  22. Zhang, W. (2004). Handover decision using fuzzy MADM in heterogeneous networks. In Proceedings of the IEEE wireless communications and networking conference 2004 (WCNC 2004), Atlanta.

  23. 3GPP TR 22.934 V6.2.0, “Feasibility study on 3GPP system to Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interworking (Release 6),” 2003.

  24. 3GPP TS 43.318 V6.5.0, “Generic access to the A/Gb interface; Stage 2 (Release 6),” 2006.

  25. 3GPP TR 25.881 V5.0.0, “Improvement of RRM across RNS and RNS/BSS (Release 5),” 2001.

  26. 3GPP TR 43.901 V6.0.0, “GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network; Feasibility Study on generic access to A/Gb interface (Release 6),” 2004.

  27. 3GPP TS 23.234 V7.0.0, “3GPP system to Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interworking; System description (Release 7),” 2005.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    George Lampropoulos, Nikos Passas & Lazaros Merakos

  2. Department of Telecommunications Science and Technology, University of Peloponnese, Tripoli, Greece

    Alexandros Kaloxylos

Authors
  1. George Lampropoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nikos Passas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alexandros Kaloxylos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lazaros Merakos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to George Lampropoulos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lampropoulos, G., Passas, N., Kaloxylos, A. et al. A flexible UMTS/WLAN architecture for improved network performance. Wireless Pers Commun 43, 889–906 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-007-9254-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-007-9254-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation