BS-Initiated Mode Transition in WiMAX Networks

This paper introduces a method for a base station to instruct a mobile station to perform an operation mode transition, the method is called BS-initiated mode transition and it includes the following steps: Receiving battery level information encapsulated in a Medium Access Control (MAC) header from the mobile station; determining if the mobile station can perform an operation mode transition based on the battery level information and the current mode of the mobile station; and instructing the mobile station to perform the operation mode transition, if it is determined that the mobile station can perform the operation mode transition. By comparing with MS-initiated mode transition, our simulation results show that BS-initiated mode transition induces less control overhead and lets the mobile stations to have more predictable operation time.