68 Int. J. Grid and Utility Computing, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
The multimedia service session handoff method in
heterogeneous wireless networks
Yulong Shen* and Qingqi Pei
School of Computer Science,
Xidian University,
Xi’an, Shaanxi 710071, China
Email: ylshen@mail.xidian.edu.cn
Email: qqpei@mail.xidian.edu.cn
*Corresponding author
Qijian Xu
Institute of China Electronic System Engineering Corporation,
Beijing 100039, China
Email: qjxu@sina.com
Zhiwei Zhang
School of Computer Science,
Xidian University,
Xi’an, Shaanxi 710071, China
Email: zwzhang@mail.xidian.edu.cn
Abstract: The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) can provide multimedia services between
heterogeneous wireless networks. But the efficiency of the service session handoff will bring a
significant impact to user experience. For the integration of heterogeneous wireless networks, we
propose a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based multimedia service session handoff method
named MS
2
HM. To reduce the handoff delay between heterogeneous wireless networks, the
MS
2
HM uses the methods of advance registration and old-new address temporary matching. We
modelled the node processing delay and network transmission delay, and analyse the total delay
and the packet loss rate of the MS
2
HM. Specially, this paper contrastively analyses the handoff
delay under different frame error control in the 3G-WLAN integrated network, and the result
shows that MS
2
HM has lower handoff delay than the method proposed by Wedlund and
Schulzrinne. The MS
2
HM can meet the low delay and low packet loss rate requirements of IMS
service session handoff between heterogeneous wireless networks, and ensure the QoS of the
IMS services.
Keywords: heterogeneous wireless networks; multimedia service session handoff; session
initiation protocol; SIP; delay model.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Shen, Y., Pei, Q., Xu, Q. and Zhang, Z.
(2012) ‘The multimedia service session handoff method in heterogeneous wireless networks’,
Int. J. Grid and Utility Computing, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp.68–77.
Biographical notes: Yulong Shen received the PhD degree in Cryptography from Xidian
University, China, in 2008. Currently, he is an Associate Professor, ACM Professional
Membership, IEEE Membership, Senior Member of Chinese Institute of Electronics and China
Computer Federation (CCF), AC Member of CCF Wireless Sensor Networks and service
computing, Member of Shaanxi Province Computer Federation Council. His current research
interests mainly focus on heterogeneous wireless networks, information security, etc.
Qingqi Pei received the PhD degree in Cryptography from Xidian University, China, in 2008.
Currently, he is an Associate Professor, ACM Professional Membership, IEEE Membership,
Senior Member of China Computer Federation (CCF). His current research interests are in
heterogeneous wireless networks, wireless sensor network.
Qijian Xu is a Research Professor in Institute of China Electronic System Engineering
Corporation and received the PhD degree from Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), China, in
2008. He is Senior Member of China Computer Federation (CCF). His current research interests
are in wireless sensor networks, trust network and Cognitive wireless networks.