Handover in Mobile Communication Networks: Who is in Control Anyway?

The migration from 3rd generation mobile communication networks to 4th generation, purely IP-based networks leads to new chances, but also great risks for the traditional mobile network operators, as competition increases dramatically. While this competition potentially improves the cost-value ratio for mobile users, they might well find their freedom of seamless session mobility abruptly end at the administrative borders of Wireless Internet Service Providers. In this paper, we will describe a possible and in our opinion likely scenario for future mobile wireless access, point out the inherent problem of current IP mobility management schemes when it comes to inter-provider handovers, have a look at why control over this process is currently shared between the network and the mobile end-devices, and describe approaches to shift the major part of control back to the user.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: EUROMICRO
• Authors: Frank A. Zdarsky, Jens B. Schmitt
• Keywords: EUROMICRO 2004, Generation Mobile Communication, Mobile Network Operators, Mobile Wireless Access, Software Engineering