The probability distribution of the number of base stations within an active set window: comparison with simulation results

This paper reports results concerning the probability distribution of the number of base stations included in the active set (AS) of a user, when a WCDMA network is considered, and a window-based algorithm for soft handover is implemented: a base station is included in the AS if its received power, at the mobile, is the strongest among all bases, or the difference from the strongest power is less than a specified value w. Comparison between an analytical description and simulation results is given. In the former case, an extension to the model of A.R. Phillips et al (Vehicular Tech. Conf., IEEE VTS 50th, vol. 2, pp. 19-22, 1999) is provided, taking the audibility of users into account. In the latter, a modified version of the simulation tool presented by C. Balzanelli et al (IEEE PIMRC Conf. Proc., 2003.) is used. The comparison shows good agreements.