Integrating distributed channel allocation and adaptive handoff management for QoS-sensitive cellular networks

Next generation high-speed cellular networks are expected to support multimedia applications, which require QoS provisions. Since frequency spectrum is the most expensive resource in wireless networks, it is a challenge to support QoS using limited frequency spectrum. In the literature, two orthogonal approaches are used to address the bandwidth utilization issue and the QoS provision issue; that is, channel allocation schemes have been proposed to improve bandwidth efficiency, whereas handoff management schemes, based on bandwidth reservation, have been proposed to guarantee a low connection dropping rate. However, little effort has been taken to address both issues together. In this paper, we integrate distributed channel allocation and adaptive handoff management to provide QoS guarantees and efficiently utilize the bandwidth. First, we present a complete distributed channel allocation algorithm and propose techniques to reduce its message complexity and intra-handoff overhead. Second, we integrate the proposed distributed channel allocation algorithm with an adaptive handoff management scheme to provide QoS guarantees and efficiently utilize the bandwidth. Detailed simulation experiments are carried out to evaluate the proposed methodology. Compared to previous schemes, our scheme can significantly reduce the message complexity and intra-handoff overhead. Moreover, the proposed scheme can improve the bandwidth utilization while providing QoS guarantees.