Handover Optimization with User Mobility Prediction for Femtocell-based Wireless Networks

Prediction of user mobility can assist resource and mobility management of wireless and mobile networks by optimizing handover execution, resource utilization, and so on. There have been extensive studies on mobility prediction for handovers between macrocells but little work for femtocellbased networks yet due to their complicated characteristics. This paper proposes handover optimization methods by developing mobility prediction techniques for femtocell-based wireless networks. To decide the handover target and execution time, special conformance index and prediction assurance are calculated. The proposed handover optimization methods can cope with various handover conditions with pingpong handovers minimized and throughput maximized. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Keywordmobility prediction, handovers management, self-optimization, femtocells, throughput