A handoff algorithm for packet loss optimization in vehicular radio-over-fiber picocellular networks

In mobile picocellular network topologies a very critical issue is the handoff procedure in conjunction with the corresponding packet loss, due to the limited overlapping areas between adjacent cells. Handoffs and packet loss are more frequent and even more critical in picocellular vehicular networks, since the aforementioned limitation is combined with the high velocities of the mobile end-users. In this paper we present a mathematical model that depicts the packet loss results of a promising handoff algorithm, i.e., the “moving extended cell”, for vehicular Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) picocellular networks at 60 GHz against the corresponding “traditional” handoff algorithm, respectively. Furthermore, we evaluate and verify the mathematical analysis with a simulation study. Finally, we present the respective results, which reflect that moving extended cell handoff algorithm can be applied to minimize packet loss in vehicular RoF picocellular networks.