Intelligent Handover Procedure for Heterogeneous

LTE Networks using Fuzzy logic

Evelin Cardoso, Ketyllen Silva, Renato Francês
Post-Graduation Program in Electrical Engineering
Federal University of Pará
Belem, Brazil
{ehs.cardoso, ketyllen, rfrances}@ufpa.br

Abstract—Heterogeneous mobile networks are already a (eNB) in LTE/LTE-Advanced systems) controlling these cells
reality and their densification has been put forward as one of will play a significant role in determining the cost and
the suggested solutions to meet the expected demands for 5th performance of multi-tier deployments [3]. Fig.1 shows a
generation (5G) mobile networks. However, in the current typical heterogeneous network with a macro eNB, a picocell
networks, it is still common for fixed parameters to be used for and a femtocell (called Home eNB).
the configuration of the network although this strategy does not
always prove to be efficient. It is within this context that the [4] notes that the heterogeneous networks have emerged
concept of self-organizing networks (SONs) has been as a low-cost solution for the operators, mainly because
established, in which several network parameters are deployment of small cells implies in self-installing and self-
automatically adjusted on the basis of measurements and operating features that can reduce the capital expenditure
intelligent systems in real time. This paper sets out a (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX) and still help to
methodology for an intelligent handover decision in relieve the networks from the problem of traffic congestion.
heterogeneous LTE networks based on measurements and
Fuzzy logic. The results showed that the proposed algorithm is In a heterogeneous scenario, where there are several
efficient and can assist in the self-organization of the network. macrocells and small cells covering a region, it has not proved
to be the best solution to carry out handover simply on the
Keywords— Heterogeneous LTE Network; Self-organizing basis of the quality of the signal received. On the other hand,
networks; Handover; Fuzzy Logic. although when all the parameters mentioned previously (with
regard to the operators and users), are taken into account, this
I. INTRODUCTION might lead to an ideal solution, it is impracticable owing to its
In mobile networks, handover is the transfer of connection complexity and the dynamics of the network.
for the user, from one radio channel to another and its main
With the densification of small cell the number of
aim is to maintain the integrity of the call being made, without
problems involving the mobility management increases a lot.
being troubled by any interruptions. The traditional policy of
Imagine a world with more base stations than cell phones: this
handover is only based on the quality of the signal received by
is where cellular technology is headed in 10–20 years. This
the user; however, it has proved to be inadvisable to disregard
mega-trend requires many fundamental differences in
key factors involved in this and the network.
visualizing, modeling, analyzing, simulating, and designing
There are a wide range of factors that can have an impact cellular networks. [5]
on the performance of the cellular mobile network. From the
standpoint of the operators, it is worth highlighting parameters
such as available bandwidth, transmission power, cellular load
and the number of active or inactive users. From the
perspective of the users, attention should be drawn to the
quality of service (QoS) of the application, the velocity of the
mobile and battery power consumption.
According to 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project)
[1] LTE-advanced has started a new study item to investigate
heterogeneous cellular network deployments as an efficient
way to improve system capacity as well as effectively enhance
network coverage. The LTE networks reflect the objectives of
3GPP by ensuring a better use of radio resources, greater
spectral efficiency and low latency [2].
Fig 1. A heterogeneous network.
In heterogeneous networks, cells with different sizes can
be used in a hierarchical network deployment. The type and
location of the base stations (also called evolved Node B

978-1-5090-4372-9/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE 2163

 Supporting seamless handovers among various types of
cells in heterogeneous network is essential. In an ideal load
balancing setting, a user of moderate or high mobility, on
entering a small cell association area, should be offloaded
from its original macrocell and back when it is no longer near
the small cell. [6]
The aim of this study is to carry out the improvement of
handover procedure for heterogeneous self-organizing LTE
networks based on measurements in real time and fuzzy
logic. The idea is based on the A2 Event, defined by 3GPP in
[7], in which account is taken of the possibility of handover
when the quality of the signal received by the current mobile
(SeNB – serving eNodeB) is worse than that of a threshold,
like described in fig.2.
Fig 2. Event A2.
It is known that handovers involve relatively complicated
procedures as well as costly overhead. In the case of a short
sojourn in a small cell, it may be preferable from a system-
level view to temporarily tolerate a suboptimal base station
association rather than initiate a handover into and out of this
cell. [6]
When account is taken of scenarios in which people are
moving about at different velocities (e.g. pedestrians,
cyclists, or users on board automotive vehicles), maintaining
a fixed threshold in a heterogeneous scenario, can bring about
what is known as the ping-pong effect, in which the user very
often carries out handover when it is unnecessary. This can
result in an increased likelihood of handover failure, a greater
signaling load and transmission errors.
The purpose of the fuzzy system is to define a possible
threshold that, depending on the conditions of the network
and user, can either facilitate or avoid handover. With a view
to meeting the required conditions of a dynamic and self-
organizing network, the fuzzy system set out here makes use
of the velocity of the mobile, the quality of the user’s channel
and the current threshold to obtain a new threshold.
This study is structured as follows: Section 2 provides an
overview of related work. Section 3 gives detail of the design
and development of the proposed algorithm. Section 4 will
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analyze the findings of the experiments and evaluate the
results. Finally, in Section 5, the main conclusions of the
work are summarized and some suggestions are made for
further studies.
II. RELATED WORK
A good deal of work has been undertaken to optimize
decisions about handover in mobile cellular networks. In this
context, fuzzy logic techniques have been widely used for
decision making processes. [8-10]. In [11], the authors design
an algorithm to provide handover decision considering the
speed and direction of user. To choose the best candidate
from all neighbor cells, the fuzzy system considers four
metrics to calculate the handover probability. They also
addressed ping pong problem by introducing a threshold. The
results show significant gains in the performance of the
network.
Many classical Multiple Attribute Decision Making
methods exists in literature, one of the most used is TOPSIS
(Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal
Solution). Reference [12] combines TOPSIS method with
fuzzy logic to reduce the decision delays, blocking
probability and the number of executed handoffs.
Performance results are compared with the classical TOPSIS
method. However, the major problem is the complexity.
In [13] introduces a dynamic fuzzy Q-Learning algorithm
for mobility management in small-cell networks. The
algorithm gradually generates new fuzzy rules and gets the
required parameters through system learning. Simulation
results show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in
minimizing the number of handovers while maintaining call
dropping ratio at a minimal level.
Authors in [14] exploit the idea of a vertical handover
algorithm between the LTE and WLAN (Wireless Local Area
Network) networks based on fuzzy logic. In this case, the
fuzzy system, is used to determine which parameter is most
important for the efficient performance of the embedded
system: available bandwidth, signal-to-noise ratio, battery
power consumption and network load. The results show that
the algorithm is capable of responding well to the wide-
ranging dynamics of the network. Therefore, the algorithm
considered only macrocells.
III. PROPOSED HANDOVER ALGORITHM USING
FUZZY LOGIC
In this paper, an algorithm based on fuzzy logic is
proposed for handover initialization and decision-making in
heterogeneous LTE networks. Fig. 3 introduces the
flowchart of this algorithm. In this case, fuzzy logic is applied
with a view to selecting the threshold for the signal quality
by noting the initialization of the handover process to another
mobile, in accordance with the A2 Event. Thus, when the
signal quality that is experienced by the user from the current
mobile (SeNB – Serving eNB) is worse than the threshold,
the handover process is considered.
 In conventional algorithms, this threshold is kept fixed in
the network, regardless of its dynamics. The aim of the fuzzy
system is thus to define a very good threshold that can be
adapted (depending on the conditions of the network and
users) to the task of facilitating or avoiding handover
procedures.

Fig 4. Fuzzy system for adjusting the threshold in self-organizing LTE

networks.

In Fuzzy systems, fuzzification is the stage in which the

linguistic variables are defined in a subjective way, as well as
the membership functions. In this model, triangular spaces
were used. The intervals for the variables of entrance
velocity, RSRQ and the current threshold are described in
Fig. 5, as follows. The intervals for the exit variable of the
new threshold are similar to those of the current threshold
variable.

Fig 3. Flowchart.

Finally, offset is a parameter of handover that seeks to

ensure that the user will experience a better signal quality
than what he had before the handover. Thus the neighboring
mobile is regarded as the ‘target’ if, and only if, its RSRQ is
greater than the RSRQ_SeNB growth of the border of offset.

A. Fuzzy controller for the choice of the Threshold

In this algorithm, the fuzzy controller adjusts the

Fig.5.a. Defined interval for Velocity.
threshold to the conditions of the channel and velocity of the
user. The current threshold is also taken into account when
choosing the new threshold, as shown in Fig. 4. Hence, there
are three entries to the fuzzy system: velocity (slow,
moderate, fast), RSRQ (Poor, Moderate, Good, Excellent)
and the current threshold (very low, low, average, high),
making a total of 48 fuzzy rules. The purpose of the rules is
to ensure that:

• If the velocity of the mobile user is slow and the

RSRQ is poor, the threshold will be increased to
facilitate the handover;
• If the velocity of the mobile user is fast and the
RSRQ is excellent, the threshold will be lowered to
avoid the handover; Fig. 5.b. Defined intervals for the RSRQ_SeNB.
• If the velocity of the mobile user is fast, and the
RSRQ is poor, the threshold will be increased to
facilitate the handover.

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 RSRQ_SeNB, the handover for the neighboring cell
is carried out;
ii. A2 with a fixed threshold: this is based on the A2
event, with a fixed threshold of -5 dB. Hence, when
the user experiences RSRQ_SeNB ≤ fixed
Threshold and the neighboring_RSRQ ≥
RSRQ_SeNB + offset, handover is carried out for
the neighboring cell.
An offset of 1 dB was applied for all the simulations. The
other parameters of the simulation can be found in Table 2.

TABLE II. SIMULATION PARAMETERS

Fig. 5.c. Defined intervals for the Current-Threshold. Parameters Value
Network topology 6 cells
The fuzzy inference system is the stage when the Macrocell/femtocell ray ~ 1.5 km/~ 150 m
propositions (rules) are defined and subsequently examined Distance eNB-eNB 2.9 km
in parallel. In other words, it consists of a set of rules which Carrier frequency 2.6 GHz
are drawn up with the aid of the knowledge of the specialist Bandwidth (eNB) 5 MHz, 25 RBs
of the system and membership function [15]. Transmission Power of eNB/femtocell 46/23 dBm
Path loss model from eNB/femtocell SUI model/Femto
Table 1 shows some of the rules that are defined for this model
problem that are based on an understanding of the way the Antenna Gain Tx eNB/femtocell 16/2 dBi
real system functions and the criteria applied to handover in Cable loss (eNB) 3 dB
cellular mobile networks. For the purposes of demonstration, Wall loss 5 dB
one of the rules is described with the aim of generating a Layout of the macrocells 1 sector (ohmni)
fuzzy decision tree: “If (there is fast velocity) and (the RSRQ Height of antenna (eNB) 30 m
is Excellent) and (the Current-Threshold is average) then (the Height of antenna for the user model 2m
New-Threshold is Very-Low)”. Initial Threshold -5 dB

TABLE I. RULES FORMULATED FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE NEW

THRESHOLD The layout of the network can be found in Fig. 6. The
Rule If And And Then model was employed at a constant velocity to simulate the
No. (Velocity) (RSRQ) (Current- (New- user´s mobility. The model of the handover algorithm set out
Threshold) Threshold)
here, was tested at the following velocities: 3, 20, 50 e 90
1 Slow Poor Very-Low High km/h. The model that was used for the macrocells was the
2 Slow Poor Low High SUI Propagation Path Loss model [16] and the Euclidian
distance was used to estimate the user’s path loss and thus
3 Slow Poor Average High
calculate the RSRQ. Fig. 7 shows the distance of the user
4 Slow Poor High High from the radio base stations during the trajectory at 90 km/h.
: : : : :
47 Fast Excellent Average Very-Low
48 Fast Excellent High Very-Low

Finally, the defuzzification is the stage in which the

resulting regions are converted into variables for the exit
variable of the system.
B. Parameters of the Simulation
The performance of the algorithm was evaluated at
different velocities by means of simulation, with the aid of
MATLAB® software and its fuzzy logic toolbox. The
proposal was also compared with the following algorithms:
i. Opportunistic Handover: this only takes account of
the signal quality (RSRQ) experienced by the user.
Hence, with regard to the RSRQ_neighboring > Fig 6. Layout of the network

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Fig 7. Distance of the user’s mobile (UE) from the radio base station at 90
km/h.
IV. RESULTS OF THE SIMULATION AND ANALYSIS
The algorithm seeks to address problems at the edge of the
cell when the user is experiencing unfavorable channel
conditions and wishes to avoid unnecessary handover, by
eliminating or reducing the ping-pong effect in heterogeneous
networks when the mobile is operating at a high velocity.
The relation between the considered variables is shown in
Fig. 8, where it can be seen that the greater the velocity and
better the channel conditions for the user, the lower the
threshold (when the aim is to avoid handover). Even in the
case of users operating at a low velocity, the algorithm tends
to raise the threshold with the aim of facilitating the handover
and thus providing the user with better connection quality. It
is worth pointing out that on the recommendation of the 3GPP,
-20 dB was considered to be the minimum level of RSRQ that
was acceptable.
Fig 8. Surface view showing the relation between Velocity, RSRQ_SeNB
and the New-Threshold.
Fig.9 shows the handover that was carried out when the
opportunistic (“best signal”) algorithm was employed. This
handover allowed a better signal quality to be detected from a
neighboring cell than from the current cell (RSRQ-
_neighboring > RSRQ_SeNB) or to use an algorithm based
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on the A2 event with a threshold fixed at -5 dB. In the chart,
it can be noted that 6 and 5 handovers are carried out
respectively, which in the case of users operating at a high
velocity, can lead to the ping-pong effect.
Fig 9. Handover that employs an opportunistic algorithm with a fixed A2
Threshold.
In proposed algorithm, the values of the threshold are
adjusted to the velocity of the mobile user and the signal
quality which it is experiencing, as can be seen in Fig. 10. It
can be observed that the initial threshold is -5 dB. When the
UE reaches this threshold, the handover is noted and if it meets
the conditions of the algorithm (described in Fig. 3), it is
carried out. On this basis, the fuzzy system calculates a new
threshold, in accordance with the measurements of the UE in
real time. This threshold will be maintained until the next
handover has been carried out and so on.
Fig 10. Dynamic threshold vs. Fixed threshold.
Fig. 10 also makes it possible to observe the behavior of
the fuzzy system, where the threshold is lowered if the mobile
user is operating at a high velocity and raises the threshold if
the user is at a low velocity, with the aim of facilitating or
avoiding handover, respectively. It is also worth pointing out
that the dynamic adjustment of the threshold has an impact on
the number of handovers that are carried out, as shown in
Fig.11.

Fig 11. Effect of the dynamic threshold on the number of handovers carried
out.
From Fig.11, it can be seen that the problem of ping-pong
handover, observed in Fig.9 can be overcome or mitigated by
the proposed algorithm. It should be noted that in the case of
users at a high velocity, this number fell by at least 50%,
which can for example result in less waste of bandwidth, less
signaling load in the network and a lower probability of
blocking. Moreover, it is worth pointing out that the algorithm
still keeps the user in a RSRQ range that is considered to be
good or excellent, as shown in Fig.12.
Fig 12. RSRQ experienced by the user along the trajectory.
Finally, the results suggest that the algorithm is efficient
and can assist in the self-organization of the heterogeneous
cellular mobile network, while at the same time, dynamically
adjusting the minimum threshold for handover, depending on
the conditions of the channel and velocity of the mobile user.
Moreover, it can either assist in, or avoid, the need to carry out
handover, which can reduce the problem at the edge of the cell
when the user is faced with unfavorable channel conditions,
as well as making it possible to prevent the ping-pong effect.
V. CONCLUSION
This paper has examined handover performance by using
Fuzzy Logic in LTE networks with small cells. The algorithm
that has been designed adjusts the threshold to the quality of
the channel experienced by the user, as well as its velocity,
with the aim of facilitating or avoiding the execution of
handover throughout the trajectory of the user. Compared with
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conventional schemes such as opportunistic algorithms and
those with a fixed threshold, the algorithm set out here has
proved to be very efficient and capable of reducing problems
related to the edge of the cell. In future work, we intend to
extend the scenario and evaluate the algorithms considering
the Radio link failures, Ping pong handover ratio and blocking
probability.
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