Performance Analysis of Weighting Methods for Handover Decision in HetNets

Abstract

The increasing demand for data, driven by advancements in technology, requires expanding coverage and enhancing network capacity. This expansion presents certain challenges, such as unnecessary Handover (HO) and interference, which can lead to a degradation in Quality of Service (QoS). To provide better QoS, it is vital to precisely model the HO decision-making process with optimal cell selection ensuring service continuity with minimal disruption. This paper investigates the performance of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Entropy, Standard Deviation (STD), and Weighted Sum Model (WSM) comparatively, while considering attributes such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), channel capacity, and cell capacity. Additionally, the Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is utilized to rank candidate cells for HO decisions. The performance of the considered weighting methods has been analyzed in a dense Small Cell (SC) Long-Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) environment based on system Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as HO Rate (HOR), HO Failure (HOF), Radio Link Failure (RLF), and HO Ping-Pong (HOPP). The evaluations have shown a trade-off between the methods in different KPIs. The findings highlight the importance of the weighting methods on HO decision, considering the significance of the specific KPIs.

Keywords

• Dense small cells
• Heterogeneous networks
• Handover
• MADM
• Weighting methods

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