Handover mechanisms in next generation heterogeneous wireless ...

INTRODUCTION
The above multiplicities call for the design of a well-engineered network trust
framework to accommodate multiple network operators securely and efficiently.
In summary, the research challenges arising from the Next Generation Heterogeneous
Wireless Networks can be classified into two areas: 1) the heterogeneity issues from the
interworking of heterogeneous wireless technologies; 2) the multiplicity issues from the
co-existence and extensive collaboration of a large number of network operators.
Seamless handover across heterogeneous wireless networks is achieved on the promise
of the aforementioned network heterogeneities being dealt with properly. This requires
the appropriate solutions at various system levels: mobile terminals, network
architectures, protocols and so forth. Apart from the challenges at the system level,
seamless handover across multiple network operators will bring about the challenges at
the operation level. This requires the corresponding solutions for the both parties:
mobile user and network operator to address the discussed multiplicities.
1.2 Thesis Overview
In this thesis, four research contributions have been made for seamless handover in the
Next Generation Heterogeneous Wireless Networks. Three of the contributions address
the multiplicity issues, while the fourth contribution focuses on the heterogeneities
caused by a mobile user’s interfacing with heterogeneous access technologies. The
research work of this thesis is summarised in Figure 1.1.
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