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MIH (Media Independent Handover)

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Introduction

Media Independent Handover (MIH) is a mechanism that enables a seamless handover of mobile nodes between different wireless access networks. It is defined by the IEEE 802.21 standard and provides a common interface between different access technologies, such as WiFi, WiMAX, and 3G/4G cellular networks. MIH allows a mobile node to communicate with a network-independent entity, called the MIH function, which can facilitate handover decisions and handover execution. In this article, we will provide an overview of MIH, its architecture, and its main features.

Architecture

The MIH architecture consists of three main components:

  1. Mobile Node (MN): The MN is a device that supports multiple wireless access technologies and is capable of performing handovers between them. It is equipped with a MIH client that communicates with the MIH function to obtain information about the available access networks and their performance.
  2. Access Network (AN): The AN is a wireless network that provides connectivity to the MN. It can be based on different technologies, such as WiFi, WiMAX, or cellular networks. The AN is equipped with a MIH agent that communicates with the MIH function to provide information about the network's status and performance.
  3. MIH Function (MF): The MF is a network-independent entity that facilitates handover decisions and handover execution. It communicates with the MN and the ANs to obtain information about the available access networks and their performance. Based on this information, it can decide when to initiate a handover and which access network to handover to.

Features

MIH provides several features that enable seamless handovers between different wireless access networks. Some of the key features are:

  1. Network Discovery: MIH allows a mobile node to discover the available access networks in its vicinity. The MN can obtain information about the access network's type, signal strength, and other performance metrics.
  2. Link Quality Estimation: MIH enables a mobile node to estimate the quality of the link between it and the access network. This information can be used to make handover decisions.
  3. Handover Decision: MIH allows a network-independent entity, the MIH function, to make handover decisions based on the information obtained from the MN and the ANs. The MIH function can decide when to initiate a handover and which access network to handover to.
  4. Handover Execution: MIH provides a mechanism for executing handovers between different access networks. This can be done either proactively or reactively, depending on the handover decision.
  5. Security: MIH provides security mechanisms to protect the handover process from attacks and ensure the privacy of the MN's information.

Advantages of MIH

MIH provides several advantages over traditional handover mechanisms. Some of the key advantages are:

  1. Seamless Handovers: MIH enables seamless handovers between different wireless access networks. The handover process is transparent to the user, and there is no interruption in the network connectivity.
  2. Network Independence: MIH is network-independent and can work with different wireless access technologies. This allows a mobile node to switch between different networks without being tied to a specific network operator or technology.
  3. Quality of Service: MIH enables the selection of the best access network based on the quality of service requirements. This can lead to improved performance and user experience.
  4. Resource Optimization: MIH can optimize the utilization of network resources by balancing the load between different access networks.
  5. Security: MIH provides security mechanisms to protect the handover process from attacks and ensure the privacy of the MN's information.

Challenges

Despite its advantages, MIH faces several challenges that need to be addressed. Some of the key challenges are:

  1. Interoperability: MIH needs to ensure interoperability between different wireless access technologies and their respective MIH implementations. This requires standardization and testing to ensure that MIH works seamlessly across different networks.
  2. Performance: MIH requires real-time access to network information to make handover decisions. This can put a strain on the network and lead to performance issues if not optimized.
  3. Deployment: MIH requires deployment of MIH agents in different access networks and MIH clients in mobile devices. This can be a challenge, especially in legacy networks that may not support MIH.
  4. Handover Trigger: MIH needs to be triggered at the right time to ensure a smooth handover. If the handover is triggered too early or too late, it can lead to degraded performance or loss of connectivity.
  5. Security: MIH needs to ensure the security and privacy of user data during the handover process. This can be challenging due to the different security mechanisms used by different wireless access technologies.

Conclusion

Media Independent Handover (MIH) is a mechanism that enables seamless handover of mobile nodes between different wireless access networks. It provides a common interface between different access technologies and enables a mobile node to communicate with a network-independent entity, called the MIH function, that can facilitate handover decisions and handover execution. MIH provides several advantages over traditional handover mechanisms, such as seamless handovers, network independence, quality of service, resource optimization, and security. However, it also faces several challenges, such as interoperability, performance, deployment, handover trigger, and security. Addressing these challenges will be essential for the widespread adoption of MIH and the realization of its full potential.