In this article, the problem of vertical handover in software-defined network (SDN) based heterogeneous networks (HetNets) is studied. In the studied model, HetNets are required to offer diverse services for mobile users. Using an SDN controller, HetNets have the capability of managing users’ access and mobility issues but still have the problems of ping-pong effect and service interruption during vertical handover. To solve these problems, a mobility-aware seamless handover method based on multipath transmission control protocol (MPTCP) is proposed. The proposed handover method is executed in the controller of the software-defined HetNets (SDHetNets) and consists of three steps: location prediction, network selection, and handover execution. In particular, the method first predicts the user’s location in the next moment with an echo state network (ESN). Given the predicted location, the SDHetNet controller can determine the candidate network set for the handover to pre-allocate network wireless resources. Second, the target network is selected through fuzzy analytic hierarchical process (FAHP) algorithm, jointly considering user preferences, service requirements, network attributes, and user mobility patterns. Then, seamless handover is realized through the proposed MPTCP-based handover mechanism. Simulations using real-world user trajectory data from Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology show that the proposed method can reduce the handover times by 10.85% to 29.12% compared with traditional methods. The proposed method also maintains at least one MPTCP subflow connected during the handover process and achieves a seamless handover.

中文翻译：

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在软件定义的HetNet中使用MPTCP进行移动感知的无缝切换

本文研究了基于软件定义网络（SDN）的异构网络（HetNets）中的垂直切换问题。在研究的模型中，HetNets需要为移动用户提供各种服务。使用SDN控制器，HetNets可以管理用户的访问和移动性问题，但在垂直切换过程中仍然存在乒乓效应和服务中断的问题。为了解决这些问题，提出了一种基于多路径传输控制协议（MPTCP）的感知移动性的无缝切换方法。提议的切换方法在软件定义的HetNets（SDHetNets）的控制器中执行，包括三个步骤：位置预测，网络选择和切换执行。特别是，该方法首先使用回声状态网络（ESN）预测用户在下一瞬间的位置。给定预测的位置，SDHetNet控制器可以确定用于切换的候选网络集，以预分配网络无线资源。其次，通过模糊分析层次过程（FAHP）算法选择目标网络，同时考虑用户偏好，服务要求，网络属性和用户移动性模式。然后，通过提出的基于MPTCP的切换机制实现无缝切换。使用韩国高级科学技术研究所的真实用户轨迹数据进行的仿真表明，与传统方法相比，该方法可以将切换时间减少10.85％至29.12％。