Cross layer architecture with integrated MIH in heterogeneous wireless networks

Progress in new radio technologies and raise in users’ demands are motivating the deployment of a wide array of wireless networks, ranging from Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), to fifth generation (5G). These heterogeneous Radio Access Technologies (RATs) are expected to be integrated together to provide mobile users QoS guarantees. Heterogeneous Wireless Networks (HWNs) provide an opportunity for developers to design efficient framework to satisfy stringent QoS requirement. This integration of different networks results in performance degradation when handovers occur during a mobility event. As a result, the effective mobility management protocols are required to support ubiquitous network access by providing seamless handover. In IEEE 802.21 standard, the framework Media Independent Handover (MIH) is proposed to facilitate handover in heterogeneous networks with measurements and triggers from link layers. This article emphasizes in relationship between the MIH framework and different modules in the MAC layer. In order to guarantee the QoS for different service flows with diverse QoS requirements, we propose to design new cross-layer based designs architecture to provide a combined solution for vertical and horizontal handover based on IEEE 802.21 MIH. We propose new modules in different layers and new primitives to facilitate the communication. Conducted simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. We evaluate the proposed architecture using a scheduling algorithm which improves system performance as shown by the results presented of a comparative analysis with the NSA (New Scheduling Algorithm) and EDF (Earliest Deadline First) schemes.