Proactive Vertical Handover Optimizations in the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core

Mobility in a wireless heterogeneous scenario in which the mobile devices are able to connect to more than one access technology available in their vicinity requires a re-consideration of the access network reselection mechanisms as to ensure seamless handovers for real deployments. This paper describes and evaluates a new proactive vertical handover optimization which enables a fast reselection, independent and in addition to the classic proactive procedures. It uses as central concept the separation between the proactive context establishment and the actual handover triggered operations which may be at their turn active or proactive. This concept is exemplified on the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core and evaluated on a minimal prototype implementation.