[Paper Review] Interface Selection for Power Management in UMTS/WLAN Overlaying Network

Mostafa Zaman Chowdhury, Yeong Min Jang+5 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Oct 5, 2018

IPv6, Mobility, Handover, Networks, Security10 references16 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes an interface selection scheme for UMTS/WLAN overlaying networks that optimizes power consumption and supports seamless handover by jointly considering mobile node battery levels and quality of service (QoS)/quality of experience (QoE) in target interfaces. The scheme uses a hybrid algorithm integrating channel quality, battery status, and QoS metrics to select the optimal interface, reducing power consumption while maintaining low handover latency and data loss.

ABSTRACT

The multiple choices of access networks offer different opportunities and overcome the limitations of other technologies. Optimal selection of interface is a big challenge for multiple interfaces supported mobile terminals to make a seamless handover and to optimize the power consumption. Seamless handover, resource management, and CAC to support QoS and multiple interface management to reduce power consumption in mobile terminal are the most important issues for the UMTS/WLAN overlaying network. The access of both interfaces simultaneously can reduce the handover latency and data loss in heterogeneous handover. The MN may maintain one interface connection while other interface can be used for handover process. But the access of both interfaces increases the consumption of power in MN. In this paper we present an efficient interface selection scheme including interface selection algorithms, interface selection mechanism and CAC considering battery power consumption for overlaying networks. MN's battery power level and provision of QoS/QoE in the target interface are considered as important parameters for our interface selection algorithm.

Motivation & Objective

• Address the challenge of efficient interface selection in multi-interface mobile terminals within UMTS/WLAN overlaying networks.
• Reduce power consumption in mobile nodes (MNs) while maintaining seamless handover and quality of service (QoS).
• Minimize handover latency and data loss during vertical handover between UMTS and WLAN interfaces.
• Integrate battery power level and QoS/QoE metrics into the interface selection decision process.
• Support efficient resource management and call admission control (CAC) for improved network performance and energy efficiency.

Proposed method

• Design a hybrid interface selection algorithm that evaluates both channel quality and battery power level of the mobile node.
• Incorporate QoS and QoE parameters of the target interface as decision factors to ensure service continuity.
• Implement a two-phase handover mechanism: maintain current interface during handover preparation, then switch to the selected interface.
• Apply call admission control (CAC) to ensure that only feasible and QoS-compliant connections are admitted to the target interface.
• Use a weighted decision function combining signal strength, battery level, and QoS metrics to rank available interfaces.
• Maintain a connection on the current interface during handover to prevent data loss, while probing and preparing the new interface in parallel.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can interface selection be optimized to minimize power consumption in mobile nodes within UMTS/WLAN overlaying networks?
• RQ2 What role does the mobile node's battery level play in determining the optimal interface for handover?
• RQ3 How can QoS and QoE be preserved during vertical handover between UMTS and WLAN interfaces?
• RQ4 What mechanisms can reduce handover latency and data loss while maintaining energy efficiency?
• RQ5 How can call admission control (CAC) be integrated into the interface selection process to ensure network resource efficiency?

Key findings

• The proposed interface selection scheme significantly reduces power consumption in mobile nodes by prioritizing interfaces based on battery level and QoS.
• The scheme achieves lower handover latency and reduced data loss by maintaining the current interface during handover preparation.
• Joint consideration of battery status and QoS metrics leads to more stable and efficient interface transitions.
• Call admission control (CAC) effectively prevents overloading of the target interface, ensuring QoS compliance.
• The hybrid algorithm outperforms traditional single-metric approaches in balancing energy efficiency and service quality.
• The scheme demonstrates improved network performance and user experience in heterogeneous UMTS/WLAN environments.