Qos based handover layer for a multi-RAT mobile terminal in UMTS and Wi-MAX networks

To meet the growing demand for broadband wireless connectivity, integrating 3G and IEEE 802.16 networks is a clear and viable solution. In this paper, we present a novel mobile client architecture called HDEL (handover decision and execution layer) that provides seamless mobility while maintaining connectivity across heterogeneous wireless networks and provides better quality of service (QoS) support. Our Proposed HDEL will monitor the QoS parameters and ensure seamless mobility to support continuous data transfer while the subscriber is moving across UMTS and Wi-MAX networks. This HDEL consists of different functional layers that are used for measuring the basic signal strength as well as the QoS parameters like delay, jitter, packet loss and throughput. To ensure QoS support during seamless handover, the proposed HDEL incorporates the procedures for activating a QoS session and ensures proper translation for network-specific QoS classification.