Lossless handoff in microcellular networks for wireless Internet access

Small cell sizes can lead to high rates of handoff in a broadband wireless environment. The virtual connection tree architecture has been proposed as an effective method to deal with this in a wireless ATM network. We review the virtual connection tree approach and we present and analyze a simple protocol designed to prevent cell loss and ensure cell sequence during handoff. Then we show how the connection tree concept can be modified to permit simple, efficient and loss-free handoffs in IP-based cellular networks. Finally, we determine the transient delay profile during a handoff and characterize overall performance of the approach