Cross layer based fast handover for IEEE 802.16e networks

To guarantee the QoS in real time applications in wireless networks, handover delay is one of the most important parameters to be considered while mobile users are changing their point of attachment to the access networks. This calls for a fast handover mechanism that will be able to offer uninterrupted services to mobile users. In this paper, a cross layer based fast handover mechanism is proposed to reduce handover delay and signaling load in IEEE 802.16e wireless metropolitan area networks. This is achieved by overlapping the functions of Medium Access Control (MAC) Layer and Internet Protocol (IP) layer. The analytical results show that the proposed mechanism significantly enhances the handover performance in terms of handover delay and signaling load thus resulting into fast handover.