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Explain various types of handoffs in GSM network.

Mumbai University > Computer Engineering > Sem6 > Mobile Communication and Computing

Marks: 5M

Year: May 2015

1 Answer
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  • Handoff (or handover) is a control process initiated when a mobile moves from its current cell to its neighboring cell.

  • A user of a mobile phone will be moving continuously. In such a situation, the mobile connection should also remain intact especially if the user is currently using the phone.

  • This transfer of connection from one cell to another should be quick and in such a manner that user doesn’t actually realize that a handoff has happened.

  • There are four basic types of handoffs in GSM network:

    a) Intra-cell handover:

    • Such a kind of handover is performed to optimize the traffic load in the cell or to improve quality of a connection by changing carrier frequency.

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b) Inter-cell handover:

  • It is also known as Intra-BSC handover.
  • Here the mobile moves from one cell to another but remains within the same BSC (Base station controller).
  • Here the BSC handles the handover process

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c) Inter-BSC handover:

  • It is also called as Intra-MSC handover.
  • As BSC can control only a limited number of cells, we might usually need to transfer a mobile from one BSC to another BSC.
  • Here the MSC handles the handover process.

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d) Inter-MSC handover:

  • It occurs when a mobile moves from one MSC region to another MSC.

  • MSC cover a large area. It can be imagined as a handover from Maharashtra MSC to Gujarat MSC while travelling.

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You should also mention, about soft handoffs and hard handoffs


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