Handoffs for Cellular Systems

Itinerary

Cellular Concept

Frequency Reuse

Handoff
Basic theory Performance

Design of cellular systems Prioritization of handoffs

Wireless Comm. Systems

Goals
provide coverage over a large area provide coverage to a large number of users maintain an acceptable level of quality

Wireless Systems

(contd)

A single tower at the center called a base station. Powerful transmitter attached to top of base station. Coverage area increased by making tower taller and/or increasing transmission power.

Wireless Systems

(contd)

Does this model satisfy our goals?

Large coverage area

Wireless Systems

(contd)

Does this model satisfy our goals?

Large coverage area High call quality

Wireless Systems

(contd)

Does this model satisfy our goals?

Large coverage area High call quality Limited number of users

Problem!
Limit on number of users due to frequency limitations (only so much spectrum) Some way to reuse frequencies?

Solution!

Cellular Systems to the rescue!

Cellular System

Cellular concept:
Many small base stations Each BS communicates with mobiles in its respective cell. MSC is responsible for coordinating communications within the system

Cellular System

(contd)

Frequency reuse

The same frequencies are reused in multiple cells.

Cellular Systems

(contd)

Does this model satisfy our goals?

Large coverage area High call quality

Cellular Systems

(contd)

Does this model satisfy our goals?

Large coverage area High call quality High capacity

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.

Handoff

Handoff

(contd)

Handoffs must be:

performed quickly performed infrequently imperceptible to users performed successfully

Handoff

(contd)

When will a handoff occur?

Initiated when received signal level drops below a certain threshold value. Not as simple as it seems Actually consider a time average of the received signal instead of the instantaneous level.

Handoff

(contd)

Define
PMIN_USABLE as the minimum usable signal level PHANDOFF as the threshold received signal level at which a handoff will be initiated = PHANDOFF PMIN_USABLE

Handoff

(contd)

Must optimize .
Too large => too many handoffs Too small => too many lost calls

Value of depends on
Environment Expected mobile speeds Time required to perform a handoff

Handoff - Successful

Handoff - Unsuccessful

Handoff Unsuccessful

(contd)

Reasons for failed handoff:

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

High traffic level Unavailability of channels

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, ...

Performance of Handoffs
Accounting for varying mobile speeds. Affects design phase of cellular system

What size of cells should be used?

Large Cells (Macrocellular) Small Cells (Microcellular) Large and Small Cells (Overlay/Underlay)

Performance

(contd)

Macrocellular Systems
cell radii several km high speed mobiles Problem:

Cells too large to provide required capacity for dense user bases.

Performance

(contd)

Microcellular Systems
Cell radii only 100-200 m Low-speed mobiles Problem:

Excessive handoffs occur when high-speed mobiles are present.

Performance

(contd)

Overlay/Underlay Systems (Umbrella cells)

Combine large and small cells

Performance

(contd)

Overlay/Underlay Systems (Umbrella cells)

Microcells increase system capacity Macrocells reduce load on system due to excessive handoffs Allows for increased capacity while reducing number of handoffs.

Performance

(contd)

Priority Schemes for Handoffs

Goal is to minimize rate of handoff failure

Guard Channel Concept Queuing of Handoffs Giving handoffs priority over call requests

Performance

(contd)

Guard Channel Concept

reserve set of channels for handoffs only reduces number of blocked handoffs reduces system capacity

Performance

(contd)

Queuing of Handoffs
Put handoff requests in a queue Serves handoffs on a FCFS basis reduces number of failed handoffs reduces system capacity

Performance

(contd)

Giving handoffs priority over call requests

reduces rate of handoff failure desirable from users point of view

Concluding Remarks
Cellular concept is very popular Handoffs are essential in cellular systems System design must take handoffrelated considerations into account. Performance of handoffs is complex and depends on many factors.

The End