presents

Handoff /
1

Handoff in Cellular
Systems
AJAL.A.J

Assistant Professor Dept of ECE,

Federal Institute of Science And Technology (FISAT)
MAIL:ec2reach@gmail.com

TM

Analysis of handoff

The Analytical Approach

The Simulation Approach
a) Cell model
b) Propagation model
c) Traffic model
d) Mobility model
The Emulation Approach
3

OBJECTIVES
Handoff Strategies
When to handoff
1G, BS based
2G or today's, Mobile-Assisted

Prioritizing Handoff
Guard channels concept
Queuing handoff requests

Practical handoff considerations

Umbrella cell
Cell dragging
4

@ Olympics

If youre a fan of the

summer Olympics, I am
sure you have watched
plenty of track events
especially the exciting 400
and 800 meter relays. Four
athletes run in each event
and hand a baton off to the
next athlete until the race
is complete. Although the
handoffs are usually done
without mishap.
5

Patient handover process

Handover is the
transfer of
professional
responsibility and
accountability for
some or all aspects of
care for a patient, or
group of patients, to
another person or
professional group on
a temporary or
permanent basis.

Communication methods
methods

Verbal
Written
Electronic
Combination of
them

Nursing report and

information sharing
For a report to be
meaningful the
information to the receiver
has to be given in an
effective way.
Nursing handover using
accurate and documented
information promotes
effective time
management.

Design of Wireless Networks

The design is done in two steps
Area coverage planning
Channel (Frequency) allocation

Outage area
Coverage area
9

 The purpose of wireless networks is to provide wireless access to the

fixed network (PSTN)

10

Personalcommunicationsnetwork

PSTN: Public Switched

Telephone Network
STP: Service Transfer Point

HLR: Home Location Register

VLR: Visitor Location Register

11

Hexagonal
Network
Coverage
ModelforPCN

12

13

Near-Field
Reactive Near Field Region

Near-fieldregion:
Angulardistributionofenergydependson
distancefromtheantenna;
Reactivefieldcomponentsdominate(L,C)

Radiating Near Field (Fresnel) Region

14

Far Field (Fraunhofer) Region

Far-fieldregion:
Angulardistributionofenergyisindependent
ondistance;
Radiatingfieldcomponentdominates(R)
TheresultantEMfieldcanlocallybetreated
asuniform(TEM)

15

16

Basics: Structure
MultipleAccess

Downlink

Handoff

Uplink
MobileStationDistributed
transceivers

BaseStationFixed
transceiver
CellsDifferent
Frequenciesor
Codes

Accessandbackhaulingin5GHz
Broadband
VoIP

HotspotFeeding
Oil&GasTelecommunications

LeasedLines
SecuredVPN

VideoSurveillance
NomadicApplications

ShoppingMalls

Publicsafety

VideoSurveillance&
PublicSafety

LeasedLines
BreezeNETB
Backhauling

Municipalities&
Education

BreezeACCESSVL

TrafficControl
Video
Surveillance&
TrafficControl

Basestation

Internet
HotspotsFeeding
cafs

ConfidentialInformation

LeasedLinesReplacement
VoIP

BroadbandAccess
Gaming

Businesses

Residential

Handoff
When a mobile moves into a different cell while a
conversation is in progress, MSC automatically transfers the
call to a new channel belonging to the new base station.
Handoff operation not only involves identifying a new base
station, but also requires that the voice and control signals
be allocated to channels associated with the new base
station.
Prioritize handoff requests over call initiation requests when
allocating unused channels in a cell site.
ConfidentialInformation

mpr-spt-bleg:animperceptibledropin
temperature.

Handoffs must be performed

As infrequently as possible, and

Be imperceptible to the users.
In order to meet these requirements, we must specify a
minimum usable signal level for acceptable voice quality
at the base station; then a slightly stronger signal level is
used as a threshold at which a handoff is made.
ConfidentialInformation

Handoff(Handover)Characteristics
Handoffs must be:

1. performedquickly
2. performedinfrequently
3. imperceptibletousers
4. performedsuccessfully
ConfidentialInformation

Handoff Strategies
Handoff: a mobile user moves to a different
cell while conversation is in progress, MSC
transfers the call to a new BS.
Identifying new BS
New voice and control channels to be allocated

Handoff must be performed

Successfully
Infrequently
Imperceptible Impossibleordifficulttoperceivebythemindor

senses:animperceptibledropintemperature.

To achieve this, designer must specify

optimum signal level at which handoff
initiates

22
22

( See diagram on slide 16)

Once, a signal level is specified as min
usable for acceptable voice quality
A slightly stronger signal level is used as
threshold
Normally taken between -90dBm and -100 dBm.

This margin = Pr_handoff Pr_min, can not

be too large or too small
( See diagram on slide 16)
If is too large, unnecessary handoffs, burden on
MSC
If is too small, insufficient time to complete a
handoff before a call is lost due to weak signal
should be chosen carefully to meet conflicting
23
23
requirements

An efficient way of managing the radio spectrum is by reusing the same

frequency, within the service area, as often as possible
This frequency reuse is possible thanks to the propagation properties of
radio waves

24

Handover decision
receivelevel
BTSold

receivelevel
BTSold

HO_MARGIN
MS

MS
BTSold

BTSnew

25(#)

26(#)

CASE 1: Handoff Successful

Value of delta is large enough. When the PHandoff is reached, the

MSC initiates the handoff.
27

CASE:2 Handoff Unsuccessful

In this case, the MSC was unable to perform the handoff before
the signal level dropped below the minimum usable level, and so
the call was lost.
28

Handoff Unsuccessful
(contd)

Reasons for failed handoff:

too small (i.e. PHANDOFF too low)
high mobile speeds
excessive delay at MSC
High

traffic level
Un-availability of channels
29

Handoff

(contd)

Ways to improve handoff performance

Optimize
Account for varying mobile speeds
Minimize delay at MSC
Prioritize handoffs
Mobile assisted handoffs, mobile

locators, minimize number of BSs

to search, ...
30

 But, the margin, given by

Pr handoff Pr minimum usable

cannot be too large or too small.

If Is too large, unnecessary handoffs which
burden the MSC may occur.
If is too small, there may be insufficient time to
complete a handoff before a call is lost due to weak
signal conditions.

31

 Of course, the dropped call can happen when there is an

excessive delay by the MSC in assigning a channel (during
high traffic conditions) as well.
On the other hand, in deciding when to handoff, it is
important to ensure that the mobile is actually moving
away from the serving base station, (not that the drop in
the measured signal level is due to momentary fading.)
PRECAUTION.
In order to ensure this, the base station monitors the signal
level for a certain period of time before a handoff is initiated.
32

momentary fading
Of course, the dropped call can happen when there is an
excessive delay by the MSC in assigning a channel (during
high traffic conditions) as well.
On the other hand, in deciding when to handoff, it is
important to ensure that the mobile is actually moving
away from the serving base station, (not that the drop in
the measured signal level is due to momentary fading.)
In order to ensure this, the base station monitors the signal
level for a certain period of time before a handoff is
initiated.
mimicking

33

mimicking

34

Dwell time
The length of monitoring needed depends largely on the
speed of mobile units.
Dwell time: the time over which a call may be maintained
within a cell without handoff.
The statistics of dwell time, vary greatly depending on the
type of radio coverage and user profiles within a cell, are
important in the practical design of handoff algorithms.

35

System Model for the Cellular Handoff

Definition of Handoff

Horizontal Handoff

Occurs when the user switches between

different network access points of the same
kind.
e.g. Handoff among 802.11 APs.

Vertical Handoff

Involves two different network interfaces

which usually represent different technologies.
e.g. Handoff from 802.11 to 1xRTT (CDMA
2000).
37

Handoff Illustration

38

39(#)

40(#)

 Hard Handoff: Break-before-make

Old
Old New
New
Break-before-

make

Soft Handoff:
OldMake-before-Break. Need to
use two radios New

Make-before-Break

Horizontal Handoff: Same radio access technology

(RAT)
Vertical Handoff: Different Technologies
Terminal Controlled
Terminal Initiated, Network Assisted
Network Initiated, Network controlled
41

Handoff
If the mobile user moves to the coverage area of another BS,
the radio link to the old BS is eventually disconnected, and a
radio link to the new BS should be established to continue the
conversation.
This process is variously referred to as

automatic link transfer,

handover, or handoff.
42(#)

When to handoff

??

When to handoff,
Drop in signal level is not due to momentary
fading
Mobile is actually moving away from serving
BS
To ensure this,
BS monitors the signal level for certain period
of time
The period depends on the vehicle speed

If slope of average received signal level is

steep, handoff is made quickly
43

@ 1G
In 1G, signal level was measured by BS
and supervised by MSC
Each BS constantly monitors the signal
strength of all its reverse channels to
determine relative location of each mobile user
In addition, the locator receiver (a spare
receiver) is used to scan and measure RSSI of
mobile users in neighboring cells and reports
to MSC
Based on these measurements, MSC decides if
handoff is necessary
44
44

@ 2G Mobile assisted handoff (MAHO)

In 2G, handoff decisions are mobile assisted
Each mobile measures RSSI of all surrounding BS
Reports to serving BS
Handoff is initiated if power of serving BS is lesser
than nearby BS by a certain level or for a certain
period of time
Enables calls to be handed over between Base
Stations at much faster rate than in 1G
MSC no longer constantly monitors RSSI.
More suitable for microcellular where HO is
frequent
45
45

 In 1G,
time to make handoff when signal drops
below threshold is 10s.
This requires that the value of be on the
order of 6 dB to 12 dB.

In 2G
such as GSM, MAHO determines the best
handoff candidates and requires only 1
or 2 seconds.
is usually between 0 dB and 6 dB.
Provides MSC substantial time to rescue a call
that is in need of handoff
46
46

roaming

47

Handover in network

48(#)

UMTS Handover
Intra-system Handover:
Intra-frequency HO
Inter-frequency HO
Inter-system HO
Different radio access technologies (e.g.
UMTS and GSM/EDGE)
Different radio access modes (e.g.
FDD/WCDMA and TDD/TD-CDMA)
49

1.Hard handover
Hard handover `breakbefore-make' is applied
when the users equipment
communicates with only
just one Node B.
Connection with the old
Node B is broken before
the new connection is
established

50

2.Soft handover
UE is located in the coverage
area of two or more different
Node Bs. The UE
simultaneously
communicates with two or
more Node Bs via two or
more radio channels. A
received signal in Node B is
routed to the RNC (Radio
Network Controller). The
RNC compares the signal on
the frame by- frame basis.
The best frame is selected for
the next processing; the
others frames are discarded.
51

3G (UMTS)

Soft Handoff
Procedure

52

Testbed

54

3.Softer handover
Softer handover is
similar to soft
handover. The main
difference between
these two handovers
resides in fact that a
UE is located in the
coverage area of two
sectors of one Node B
55

Handover Phases
a]
Handover detection
b]
Handover
preparation
c]
Handover execution
56

a] Handover Detection
One of the responsibilities of the
handover entity is monitoring and
triggering the handover.

57

Handoff Detection

Handoff may depend more reliably on WEI of the

current channel rather than RSSI.
If WEI is good, then handoff is not performed.
However, it is necessary to accumulate WEI
measurements over a period of time, whereas
RSSI is known instantaneously.
To make the handoff decision accurately and
quickly, it is desirable to use both WEI and
RSSI.
58

Handoff Detection

RSSI measurements are affected by distancedependent fading, lognormal fading (i.e., shadow
fading), and Rayleigh fading (i.e., multipath fading).
Distance-dependent fading, or path loss, occurs when the
received signal becomes weaker due to increasing
distance between MS and BS.
Shadow fading occurs when there are physical obstacles
(e.g., hills, towers, and buildings) between the BS and the
MS, which can decrease the received signal strength.
Multipath fading occurs when two or more transmission
paths exist (due to signal being reflected off buildings or
mountains) between the MS and BS.
59

b]

Handover
Preparation
In this phase, the handover entity
requests for the other networks
resource availability information.

60

c] Handover Execution
A handover execution message is
responsible for triggering the
handover to another network and
is sent by the handover entity.

61

Handover Procedure
MS
BTSold
BSCold
measurement
measurement
report
result

MSC

HOdecision
HOrequired

BSCnew

BTSnew

HOrequest
resourceallocation
ch.activation

HOcommand

HOcommand

HOcommand

HOrequestack ch.activationack

HOaccess
Linkestablishment
clearcommand clearcommand
clearcomplete

HOcomplete

HOcomplete

clearcomplete

62

Handoff Strategies Used to

Determine Instant of Handoff
1.
2.
3.
4.

Relative signal strength

Relative signal strength with threshold
Relative signal strength with hysteresis
Relative signal strength with hysteresis
and threshold
5. Prediction techniques

63(#)

 Handoff must ensure that the drop in the measured signal is not due to
momentary fading and that the mobile is actually moving away from the
serving base station.
Running average measurement of signal strength should be optimized so
that unnecessary handoffs are avoided.
Depends on the speed at which the vehicle is moving.
Steep short term average -> the hand off should be made quickly
The speed can be estimated from the statistics of the received short-term fading
signal at the base station

Dwell time: the time over which a call may be maintained within a cell
without handoff.

Dwell time depends on

propagation
interference
distance
speed
64

Handoff measurement
In first generation analog cellular systems, signal
strength measurements are made by the base station
and supervised by the MSC.
In second generation systems (TDMA), handoff
decisions are mobile assisted, called mobile assisted
handoff (MAHO)

Intersystem handoff: If a mobile moves from one

cellular system to a different cellular system
controlled by a different MSC.
Handoff requests is much important than handling
a new call.
65

Handoff parameters
Word error indicator ( WEI )
Received signal strength indication (RSSI)
quality Indicator (QI)

66

Word error indicator ( WEI )

This is a measure to check the output of

the demodulator in the receiver.
When the carrier input to the
demodulator is sufficient above the
threshold , the output will be with less
WEI
67

Received signal strength indication

(RSSI)

The Received signal strength

must be around - 100 dBm

68

Quality Indicator (QI)

This is a measure of the signal quality with

respect to interference.
Usually it is prescribed at 5 dB to 25 dB

69

4 types of handover
1
MS

BTS

MS

MS

MS

BTS

BTS

BTS

BSC

BSC

BSC

MSC

MSC

GMSC

70(#)

Handoff
Three strategies have been proposed to detect the need
for handoff:

o mobilecontrolled handoff (MCHO)

o networkcontrolled handoff (NCHO)
o mobileassisted handoff (MAHO)

71(#)

MobileControlled Handoff (MCHO)

The MS continuously monitors the signals of

the surrounding BSs and initiates the
handoff process when some handoff criteria
are met.
MCHO is used in DECT and PACS.

72(#)

NetworkControlled Handoff (NCHO)

The surrounding BSs measure the signal

from the MS, and the network initiates the
handoff process when some handoff criteria
are met.
NCHO is used in CT2 Plus and AMPS.

73(#)

MobileAssisted Handoff (MAHO)

The network asks the MS to measure the signal

from the surrounding BSs. The network makes
the handoff decision based on reports from the
MS.
MAHO is used in GSM and IS95 CDMA.

74(#)

Two types of handoff

intercell handoff or interBS handoff
intersystem handoff or interMSC handoff

75(#)

Two types of handoff

The BSs involved in the handoff may be connected to
the same MSC (intercell handoff or interBS
handoff)
The BSs involved in the handoff may be connected to
two different MSCs (intersystem handoff or
interMSC handoff ).

76(#)

InterBS Handoff
These handoff schemes can
significantly reduce the probability
of forced termination as well as the
probability of call incompletion
(new call blocking plus handoff
call forced termination).
77(#)

Intersystem Handoff
In intersystem handoff, the new and old BSs are
connected to two different MSCs.
We trace the intersystem handoff procedure of IS41,
where networkcontrolled handoff (NCHO) is
assumed.
In this figure, a communicating mobile user moves out
of the BS served by MSC A and enters the area
covered by MSC B.

78(#)

intersystem handoff
intersystem handoff
If a mobile moves from one cellular system to
a different system controlled by a different
MSC
Issues to be addressed
A local call becomes a long-distance call

(roaming)
Compatibility between two MSC must be determined
Different systems have different policies and
methods for managing handoff requests

79
79

Intersystem Handoff
Intersystem handoff requires the following steps:

Step 1. MSC A requests MSC B to perform

handoff measurements on the call in progress.

MSC B then selects a candidate BS2, BS2, and
interrogates it for signal quality parameters on the call
in progress. MSC B returns the signal quality
parameter values, along with other relevant
information, to MSC A.

80(#)

Intersystem Handoff

Step 2. MSC A checks if the MS has made too

many handoffs recently (this is to avoid, for

example, numerous handoffs between BS1 and BS2 a
where the MS is moving within the overlapped area)
or if intersystem trunks are not available. If so, MSC
A exits the procedure. Otherwise, MSC A asks MSC B
to set up a voice channel. Assuming that a voice
channel is available in BS2, MSC B instructs MSC A
to start the radio link transfer.

81(#)

Intersystem Handoff

Step 3. MSC A sends the MS a handoff

order. The MS synchronizes to BS2. After the MS is
connected to BS2, MSC B informs MSC A that the
handoff is successful. MSC A then connects the call
path (trunk) to MSC B and completes the handoff
procedure.

82(#)

Seamless Handoff

Defined as a handoff scheme that maintains

the connectivity of all applications on the
mobile device when the handoff occurs.
Aims to provide continuous end-to-end data
service in the face of any link outages or
handoff events.
Design Goal:

low latency
Minimal packet loss

83

Universal Seamless Handoff

Architecture (USHA)

NATserver
NATserver

Allpacketsareencapsulated
Allpacketsareencapsulated
andtransmittedusingUDP
andtransmittedusingUDP

Applicationsareboundtothetunnel
Applicationsareboundtothetunnel
andtransparenttothehandoff.
andtransparenttothehandoff.
1xRTT
84

Smart Decision Model

DM (Device Monitor)

Monitors and reports the

status of each network
interface:

Signal strength
Link capacity
Power consumption

SM (System Monitor)

Monitors and reports

system information (e.g.
current remaining battery)

85

Handover Performance Metrics

Cell blocking probability probability of a new

call being blocked
Call dropping probability probability that a
call is terminated due to a handover
Call completion probability probability that an
admitted call is not dropped before it terminates
Probability of unsuccessful handover
probability that a handover is executed while the
reception conditions are inadequate
86

Handover Performance Metrics

Handoff blocking probability probability that a handoff

cannot be successfully completed
Handoff probability probability that a handoff occurs
before call termination
Rate of handoff number of handoffs per unit time
Interruption duration duration of time during a handoff
in which a mobile is not connected to either base station
Handoff delay distance the mobile moves from the point
at which the handoff should occur to the point at which it
does occur

87

Practical Handoff Consideration

Different type of users

High speed users need frequent handoff during a call.
Low speed users may never need a handoff during a call.

Microcells to provide capacity, the MSC can become burdened if high

speed users are constantly being passed between very small cells.
Minimize handoff intervention
handle the simultaneous traffic of high speed and low speed users.

Large and small cells can be located at a single location (umbrella cell)
different antenna height
different power level

Cell dragging problem: pedestrian users provide a very strong signal to

the base station
The user may travel deep within a neighboring cell
88

Call drops
Call drops
Excessive delay by MSC due to high traffic
load
is set too small for handoff time
No channels are available on any of nearby BS

89
89

Handoff Process

Types of Handoff

90

Handoff Process

Types of Handoff

91

Horizontal Handoff Process

Handoff Schemes

92

Horizontal Handoff Process

Handoff Schemes

93

Horizontal Handoff Process

Handoff Schemes
Non-Prioritized Scheme (NPS)
Prioritization Schemes

Channel Reservation Schemes (CRS)

Handoff Queuing Schemes (HQS)
Channel Transferred Handoff Schemes (CTS)
SubRating Schemes (SBRS)
Genetic Handoff Schemes (GHS)
Hybrid Handoff Schemes (HHS)
94

Horizontal Handoff Process

95

Vertical Handoff Process

Handoff Phases
System discovery
Handoff decision
Handoff execution

96

Vertical Handoff Process

Handoff Schemes

97

Summary
Handoff Strategies
When to handoff
1G, BS based
2G or today's, Mobile-Assisted

Prioritizing Handoff ( NEXT PRESENTATION)

Guard channels concept
Queuing handoff requests

Practical handoff considerations( NEXT

PRESENTATION)
Umbrella cell
Cell dragging
98
98

Question
What happens when mobile moves from one

cell to another?
Handoff!!
The process of transferring a mobile user from

one channel or base station to another.

99

THANKS

Q.2. What is Hard Handoff and Soft

Handoff?
Provide 2 differences between them in
respect of resource allocation and technical
requirements in mobile device?

101

Answer Q.2.
In hard handoff, source channel is released, then target
channel is engaged. Connection to source is broken before
it is made to the target known as break-before-make.
Hard handoff needs to be instantaneous. It is perceived as
an event during the call; requires the least processing by
the network providing service.
In a soft handoff, source channel is retained and used in
parallel with target channel in the target cell. The
connection to the target is established before the
connection to the source is broken known as makebefore-break. It is perceived as a state of the call, rather
than a brief event.
Hard handoff
Soft handoff
Only one channel needs to be
allocated per call.
Mobile devices hardware does not
need to be capable of receiving
two or more channels in parallel,
which makes it cheaper and
simpler

Minimum two channels have to

be assigned
Mobile devices hardware must
be capable of receiving two or
more channels in parallel, which
makes it expensive and difficult
102

Q.3. What is Vertical handoff? In the given scenario,

when & how
the Vertical Handoff will take place?
Consider Handoff between technologies:
802.3, 802.11, and 802.16e
Docked Laptop with 802.3, 802.11, and 802.16e

103

Answer of Q.3:
Vertical handoff refers to a network node
changing the type of connectivity it uses to
access a supporting infrastructure, usually
to support node mobility.
Sequence of Events in the given scenario:
1. Docked Laptop with 802.3, 802.11, and 802.16e
2. Laptop undocks and switches to 802.11
3. User moves outside the building, laptop switches
to 802.16e (Vertical Handoff is completed)

104