Improvements to Inter System Handover in the EPC Environment

The Evolved Packet Core (EPC), defined by 3GPP, provides the possibility of integrating 3GPP as well as non-3GPP access network technologies. This opens up new options for mobility through the use of inter system handover over several access network technologies. This paper provides an overview of the introduced component Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) from the 3GPP as well as the Media Independent Handover (MIH) Service standard 802.21 from IEEE which aim to facilitate handovers, in particular the inter system handover. The paper provides an insight into how the two handover optimisation mechanisms can work together and complement one another. Furthermore a solution that combines MIH and ANDSF is proposed for improving the inter system handover behaviour.