Adaptive cross-layer handover algorithm based on MPTCP for hybrid LiFi-and-WiFi networks

In this paper, an adaptive cross-layer handover algorithm based on multipath transmission control protocol (MPTCP) is proposed to solve the handover problem in hybrid light fidelity (LiFi) and wireless fidelity (WiFi) networks (HLWNets). According to this algorithm, the system can adapt to the user’s business type and behavioral characteristics to achieve seamless handover. By constructing nine evaluation indicators considering three dimensions of real-time network attributes, user mobility characteristics, and service demands for the network, the user mobility index (MI) is defined. By using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP)- the technique for order preferences by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to conduct sub-item and overall analysis of the three types of indicators, the user’s mobile score is obtained, and the required MPTCP mode is determined to realize the cross-layer assistance accordingly. By using MI and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), load balancing can be achieved and the handover margin (HOM) and the time to trigger (TTT) can be dynamically set. By this, compared with the standard and location-aware algorithms, the number of handovers is significantly reduced (by 71% and 28%) and the throughput is effectively increased (by 58% and 43%). Finally, by simulation, the effectiveness of the adaptive cross-layer handover algorithm based on MPTCP is demonstrated.