International Journal of Emerging Technology in Computer Science & Electronics (IJETCSE)
ISSN: 0976-1353 Volume 14 Issue 2 –APRIL 2015.
Optimization of QoS in 4G Networks Using
Handover Management
NAMRATA KATTI, SEEMA SHIVAPUR, VIJAYALAKSHMI M.
Department of Computer Science
BVBCET, Hubli
namrata.katti1989@gmail.com, seems.laki@gmail.com, viju11@bvb.edu
Abstract— With the advent of new opportunities and
user demands in the mobile technology, 4G is gaining
popularity because of its faster service. The Long
Term Evolution, LTE is a 4G wireless network
developed by 3rd Generation Partnership Project
(3GPP). The performance of LTE is highly influenced
by QoS, in which Handover management is the major
issue. Handover mechanism is the transfer of call
from one network to another, where all networks are
connected to the core network. The transfer of call
occurs due to weakening of current signal or high
availability of services to the user on another signal.
Maintenance of call session during such transfers is
crucial. There are three existing handover algorithms
for LTE in 4G networks namely No-Op, A2-A4-Rsrq,
and A3-Rsrp. The No-Op is the simplest algorithm
where it does not include any interface methods for
handover. The second one A2-A4-Rsrq utilizes the
Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) from
Event A2 and A4. The third one A3-Rsrp aims to
provide each user equipment (UE) with the best
possible Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP). To
improve QoS parameters; throughput, SINR, and
number of handovers, authors propose a new Hybrid
algorithm which utilizes the functionalities of both
A2-A4-Rsrq and A3-Rsrp. The performance analysis
of the proposed hybrid algorithm is conducted by
comparing it with the existing algorithms using NS-3
network simulator. The first version of the algorithm
has been implemented and the work is under progress
to improve the results.
Index Terms—LTE, QoS, Rsrp, Rsrq, SINR
I. INTRODUCTION
4G is the fourth generation of mobile
communication standards. It provides mobile ultra-
broadband internet access and it is a successor of the
third generation (3G) standards, as it overcomes the
disadvantages of 3G networks [1]. One important
disadvantage is data rate of 4G goes up to 100 Mbps to 1
Gbps but of 3G is only up to 2 Mbps. So many of the
researchers have explored on the recent technology i.e.
4G [2].
As 4G is the present working area of many
researchers to increase the QoS parameters such as
throughput, SINR, etc, there are many challenges such as
delay, bit error rate, high packet-loss rate during
handover, bandwidth limitation and fluctuations of the
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available bandwidth, jitter, and power consumption in the
4G networks.
To increase the QoS in 4G networks, the
authors concentrated on one major issue i.e. handover
management for LTE module. Handover mechanism is
the transfer of call from one network to another, where
all these networks are connected to the core network. The
transfer of call occurs due to weakening of current signal
or high availability of services to the user on another
signal. Maintenance of call session during such transfers
is crucial. There are three existing handover algorithms
for LTE in 4G networks namely No- Op, A2-A4-Rsrq,
and A3-Rsrp. The No-Op is the simplest algorithm where
it does not include any interface methods for handover.
The second one A2-A4-Rsrq utilizes the Reference
Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) from Event A2 and A4.
The third one A3-Rsrp aims to provide each user
equipment (UE) with the best possible Reference Signal
Received Power (RSRP). To improve QoS parameters;
throughput, SINR, and number of handovers, authors
propose a new Hybrid algorithm which utilizes the
functionalities of both A2-A4-Rsrq and A3- Rsrp. The
performance analysis of the proposed hybrid algorithm is
conducted by comparing it with the existing algorithms
using NS-3 network simulator. Here authors aim is to
increase the efficiency of 4G networks by improving
QoS parameters such as throughput, SINR, number of
handover, packet loss, etc.
In introduction author is giving brief
explanation of the domain and discussing about purpose
of the paper. Section II, deals with some papers which
describe the journey towards the handover algorithms in
4G networks (LTE module). With the study of handover
algorithms, author focuses on the proposed algorithm i.e.
Hybrid algorithm with detailed explanation of handover
process in section III. In Section IV explains about
environment set up, parameters considered and
comparative study with the existing handover algorithms.
At last paper deals with conclusion and future work.
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
Handover management is the major issue in
mobile communication, which degrade the performance
of QoS parameters. The authors have performed number
of studies to deal with handover management and
different algorithms in LTE module for 4G networks.
These algorithms use relative signal strength (RSS)
parameter for measurement reports.
The authors of the paper, dealt with vertical
handoff management in heterogeneous network, means
 International Journal of Emerging Technology in Computer Science & Electronics (IJETCSE)
ISSN: 0976-1353 Volume 14 Issue 2 –APRIL 2015.

switching from one network to another while maintaining

the connection. The decision of handoff should be made
at correct time for good resource allocation. In the
vertical handoff decision phase, the mobile node
determines whether the sessions should continue using
the existing selected network or be switched to another
network. The decision may depend on various parameters
including the type of the application, minimum
bandwidth, delay required by the application, access cost,
and the user’s preferences. The authors of another paper
dealt with the handover process from one network to
another which is shown through the implementation of
video streaming application in ns3 platform [3]. The
platform consists of 3 physical devices such as
computers. One computer acts as a video streaming
server. The second one contains LTE network for the
simulation environment. The last device acts as the
streaming client. The emulated LTE network is
connected from one end to the server and other end to the
client. The server sends video clips to client through the
simulated environment using developed HIL (Hardware
In the Loop) procedure. This procedure converts the real Fig. 1. A2-A4-Rsrq Algorithm Flowchart
packets to the simulation-based format so that the packets Second is A2-A4-Rsrq handover algorithm
can flow through the simulation environment on the which utilizes the Reference Signal Received Quality
second device and undergo the LTE network conditions. (RSRQ) measurements from Event A2 and A4 as shown
When the packets finish their journey in the simulated in fig 1. Event A2 (serving cells RSRQ becomes worse
LTE environment, the HIL technique reconverts the than threshold) is to indicate that the user equipment
packets back to the real data format so that they could be (UE) is receiving very low signal quality and may benefit
sent to the client. The platform supports multiple clients from a handover. Event A4 (neighbour cell RSRQ
streaming [3]. becomes better than threshold) is used to detect
The video streaming application may cause neighbouring cells and considering their RSRQ from
packets loss in the LTE environment during handover. every attached UE, which are stored internally by the
This leads to start the real journey of LTE module in 4G algorithm. By default, the algorithm configures Event A4
networks. The authors explain different existing with a very low threshold; so that the trigger criteria
handover algorithms such as No-Op, A2-A4-Rsrq, and (handover) are always true [4].
A3-Rsrp. These algorithms are derived on event-based The third existing one is A3-Rsrp which is also
trigger criterion. There are mainly 5 events; Event A1 called as traditional power budget (PBGT) algorithm [4].
(when serving cell becomes better than threshold), Event The goal is to provide each user equipment node with the
A2 (serving cell become worse than threshold), Event A3 best possible Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)
(Neighbour becomes offset DB better than serving cell), as shown in fig 2. This is achieved by performing a
Event A4 (Neighbour becomes better than threshold) and handover as soon as a better cell (i.e. with stronger
last Event A5 (serving becomes worst than threshold 1 RSRP) is detected and event A3 (neighbour cells RSRP
and neighbour becomes better than threshold 2) [4]. become better than serving cells RSRP) is chosen.
No-Op is the first algorithm, which is simplest Handover is triggered for UE to the best cell in the
and it basically does not call any interface methods for measurement report. This handover algorithm is based on
handling handover [4]. The users may choose this hysteresis and time-to-trigger parameters to the UE
algorithm if they are interested to disable automatic configuration. Hysteresis delays the handover in regard
handover trigger in the simulation. of RSRP. Time-to-trigger delays the handover in regard
of time.

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology in Computer Science & Electronics (IJETCSE)
ISSN: 0976-1353 Volume 14 Issue 2 –APRIL 2015.
Fig. 2. A3-Rsrp Algorithm Flowchart
The existing handover algorithms can be used
for transforming data from one channel connected to
another channel, while maintaining the session. In the
next section, the author dealt with different modules to
show how call get initiated and also deals with proposed
handover algorithm to improve the efficiency of LTE
module in 4G networks.
III. PROPOSED WORK
A. Overall Architecture
There are different modules in 4G networks,
for processing a call from one network to another. The
different modules are CAC (Call Admission Control),
Classifier, Scheduler, and Handover as shown in fig 3.
When call gets initiated, allocation of available
bandwidth based on subscriber station request takes place
then classifier and scheduling based on priority given to
user. At last, the handover takes place where selection of
existing network or switching to other network is done
based on the resources available.
Fig. 3. Overall Architecture
The fig 3 explains the input, output and purpose of
different modules.
CAC is call admission control its duty is allocation of
bandwidth
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Input: Subscriber station sends a request for allocation of
bandwidth
Output: Bandwidth allocated or request rejected
Purpose: Allocation of bandwidth based on subscriber
station request
The classifier work as follows
Input: Packets are received from subscriber station
Output: Packets are forwarded to scheduling module
Purpose: Packets are classified based on priority given to
users
Scheduling work is as follows
Input: Packets are received from classifier module
Output: Packets are mapped to physical layer
Purpose: Packets are scheduled based on priority given to
traffic classes
In the next subsection author dealt with handover
procedure, how handover is taking place between the
nodes with the help of the interface.
B. Handover Procedure
The handover algorithm operates at the source
enhanced node (eNodeB) and is responsible for making
handover decisions in an automatic manner. It interacts
with an eNodeB RRC instance via the Handover
Management SAP interface [4]. The handover algorithm
interface consists of the following methods [4]:
 AddUeMeasReportConfigForHandover
(HandoverAlgorithmeNodeBRRC) This is used by the
handover algorithm to request measurement reports from
the eNodeB RRC entity, by passing the desired reporting
configuration. The configuration will be applied to all
future attached user equipments(UEs).
 ReportUeMeas
(eNodeBRRCHandoverAlgorithm) Based on the UE
measurements configured earlier in
AddUeMeasReportConfigForHandover, UE may submit
measurement reports to the eNodeB. The eNodeB RRC
entity uses the ReportUeMeas interface to forward these
measurement reports to the handover algorithm.
 TriggerHandover
(HandoverAlgorithmeNodeBRRC) After examining the
measurement reports (but not necessarily), the handover
algorithm may declare a handover. This method is used
to notify the eNodeB RRC entity about decision, which
will then proceed to start the handover procedure.
The X2 interface interconnects two enhanced
nodes eNBs they are source eNB node and target eNB
node as shown in fig 4 [4], [5].From a logical point of
view, X2 interface is a point-to-point link between the
two eNBs and is implemented in the simulator. A point-
to-point device is created in both eNBs and the two
point-to-point devices are attached to the point-to-point
link.
 International Journal of Emerging Technology in Computer Science & Electronics (IJETCSE)
ISSN: 0976-1353 Volume 14 Issue 2 –APRIL 2015.

proposed new Hybrid handover algorithm to improve

handover management in LTE module.

IV. RESULT ANALYSIS

A. Experiment Environment
NS3 is an open, extensible network simulation
platform, for networking and research. It focuses on
different modules such as LTE, Wi-Fi, and many. Here,
Simulation is done using NS3 for handover algorithms in
LTE module [6].

B. Parameters Specification
There are different parameters considered for
the execution, which are used for handover campaign.
These parameters are assigned the default values during
Fig. 4. Handover Procedure execution. Table I explains lena-dual-stripe parameter
configuration for handover campaign [7].
C. Hybrid Algorithm
The aim behind proposing new algorithm for TABLE I
handover is to improve QoS parameters such as LENA-DUAL-STRIPE PARAMETER CONFIGURATION
throughput, SINR, and number of handover in the LTE FOR HANDOVER CAMPAIGN
module for 4G networks. Hybrid algorithm is the Parameter name value Description
combination of two best algorithms; they are A2-A4- simTime 50 seconds simulation duration
Rsrq and A3-Rsrp handover algorithms. The proposed Disabling apartment buildings
nBlocks
algorithm concentrating on two important parameters; and femtocells
7=Number of macrocell sites
RSRQ and RSRP values. These values are taken from the nMacroEnbSites
(each site has 3 cells)
nodes such as bestNeighbourRsrq and 2 the macrocell sites will be
bestNeighbourRsrp as shown in the fig 5. nMacroEnbSitesX
positioned in a 2-3-2 formation
500 m distance between
interSiteDistance
adjacent macrocell sites
46 dBm Tx power for each
macroEnbTxPowerDbm
macro cell
epc Enable EPC mode
epcDl Enable full-buffer DL traffic
epcUl Enable full-buffer UL traffic
Disable UDP traffic and enable
useUdp
TCP instead
Determines number of UEs
macroUeDensity (translates to 48 UEs in our
simulation)
outdoorUeMinSpeed Minimum UE movement speed
in m/s (60 kmph)
Maximum UE movement speed
outdoorUeMaxSpeed
in m/s (60 kmph)
macroEnbBandwidth 5 MHz DL and UL bandwidth
generateRem (Optional) For plotting the
Radio Environment Map

Some of the required assumptions are not

Fig. 5. Hybrid Algorithm
available as parameters of lena-dual-stripe. In this case,
The Hybrid combined approach explains how
author override the default attributes, as shown in Table
two values are compared with the threshold. The two
II which explains overriding default attributes for
important values RSRQ and RSRP are taken from
handover campaign [7].The table contains the default
bestNeighbourRsrq and bestNeighbourRsrp nodes
parameter value name such as different handover
respectively. These values in turn taken from A2-A4-
algorithms, No-op, A2-A4-Rsrq, A3-Rsrp algorithm and
Rsrq and A3-Rsrp handover algorithms respectively. The
hybrid algorithm can also add as default parameter. Table
procedure contains two conditions; bestNeighbourRsrq is
II also gives description about file names which are
greater than threshold and bestNeighbourRsrp is greater
generated during execution.
than threshold, if both conditions get satisfied, then
trigger handover to new bestNeighbourCellId. Otherwise TABLE II
trigger handover to bestNeighbourRsrp. OVERRIDING DEFAULT ATTRIBUTES FOR HANDOVER
There are three algorithms in LTE module CAMPAIGN
those are A2-A4-Rsrq, A3-Rsrp, and No-Op by their Parameter value name Description
performance author conclude that A2-A4-Rsrq and A3-
Rsrp algorithms are best as compared to No-Op NoOpHandoverAlgorithm
HandoverAlgorithm A3RsrpHandoverAlgorithm
algorithm so by combining these two algorithms author
A2A4RsrqHandoverAlgorithm

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology in Computer Science & Electronics (IJETCSE)
ISSN: 0976-1353 Volume 14 Issue 2 –APRIL 2015.

Scheduler Proportional Fair scheduler per execution

UseIdealRrc Ideal RRC protocol=1
DlRlcOutputFilename File name for DL RLC trace output The performance analysis of the proposed
UlRlcOutputFilename File name for UL RLC trace output hybrid algorithm is conducted by comparing it with the
File name for DL PHY existing algorithms using NS-3 network simulator. The
DlRsrpSinrFilename
RSRP/SINR trace output first version of the algorithm has been implemented and
File name for UL PHY SINR trace the work is under progress to improve the results.
UlSinrFilename
output
V. CONCLUSION
C. Comparison Study
NS3 provides different ways for passing The authors dealt with 3 handover algorithms
configuration values into a simulation. For execution
No-op, A2-A4-Rsrq, and A3-Rsrp(Strongest) algorithms,
authors are using the command line arguments. It is
and proposed new Hybrid Algorithm. The paper explains
basically done by appending the parameters and their
the use hybrid algorithm in LTE module for handover
values to the waf call during individual simulation [7].
management that helps in 4G networks which is the
So the waf call is same for all handover simulations.
combination of A2-A4-Rsrq and A3-Rsrp algorithm.
The -RngRun=1 argument is used for setting
Here, the performance analysis of different parameters;
the run number by the random number generator in the
throughput, SINR, and number of handover is conducted
simulation. -generateRem=1 argument is to generate the
by comparing with existing algorithms using NS3. The
files necessary for generating the Radio Environment
first version of the algorithm has been implemented and
Map (REM) of the simulation. The fig 6 shows the
the work is under progress to improve the results.
position of eNodeBs and UEs at the beginning of a
simulation using RngRun = 1 [7].
A. Future Work
In future, authors will improve the performance
of proposed algorithm even better with respect to other
algorithms. The proposed Hybrid algorithm is in
development stage, which will be implemented further to
increase throughput and SINR by comparing with
existing handover algorithms.

REFERENCES
[1] S. Shukla, V. Khare, S. Garg, and P. Sharma,
“Comparative study of 1g, 2g, 3g and 4g.”
[2] A. Kumar and Suman, “Comparision of 3g wireless
networks and 4g wireless networks,” International Journal
of Electronics and Communication Engineering, vol. 6, no.
Fig. 6. REM obtained from a simulation in handover 1, pp. 1–8, 2013.
campaign [3] A. Fouda, A. N. Ragab, A. Esswie, M. Marzban, A. Naser,
M. Rehan, Ibrahim et al., “Real-time video streaming over
After hours of running, the simulation ns3-based emulated lte networks.”
campaign will eventually end. Post-processing is [4] “Design documentation,” http://lena.cttc.es/manual/lte-
design.html.
performed on the produced simulation output to obtain
[5] “Handover algorithm and procedure in lte,”
meaningful information out of it. GNU Octave is used http://www.teletopix.org/4g-lte/handover-algorithm-and-
for processing of throughput and SINR data and uses procedure-in-lte/.
simple shell scripting to count the number of handover in [6] “Introduction,”
the log file. http://www.nsnam.org/docs/tutorial/html/introduction.
The results show different handover algorithms html.
in a mobility simulation which aims to improve both [7] “User documentation,”
throughput and SINR significantly. The Table III shows http://www.nsnam.org/docs/models/html/lte-user.
the handover statistics of all the algorithms including our
new hybrid algorithm when RngRun is set to unity.

TABLE III
RESULTS OF HANDOVER CAMPAIGN ANALYSIS
A2-A4-
Statistics No-op A3-Rsrp Hybrid
RSRQ
DL system 4683.8 1.9053e+ 1.4728e+
throughput kbps 04 kbps 04 kbps
UL system 2754.3 6744.7 5908.6
throughput kbps kbps kbps
-0.76278 5.6527 5.2526 5.9111
DL SINR
dB dB dB dB
16.749 83.260 88.325 17.014
UL SINR
dB dB dB 0dB
Number of
0 540 436 140
handovers
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