Definition

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in wireless network deployment and mobile device market penetration. With vigorous research that promises higher data rates, future wireless networks will likely become an integral part of the global communication infrastructure. Ultimately, wireless users will demand the same reliable service as today's wire-line telecommunications and data networks. However, there are some unique problems in cellular networks that challenge their service reliability.

In addition to problems introduced by fading, user mobility places stringent requirements on network resources. Whenever an active mobile terminal (MT) moves from one cell to another, the call needs to be handed off to the new base station (US), and network resources must be reallocated. Resource demands could fluctuate abruptly due to the movement of high data rate users. Quality of service (QoS) degradation or even forced termination may occur when there are insufficient resources to accommodate these handoffs.

If the system has prior knowledge of the exact trajectory of every MT, it could take appropriate steps to reserve resources so that QoS may be guaranteed during the MT's connection lifetime. However, such an ideal scenario is very unlikely to occur in real life. Instead, much of the work on resource reservation has adopted a predictive approach.

One approach uses pattern matching techniques and a self-adaptive extended Kalman filter for next-cell prediction based on cell sequence observations, signal strength measurements, and cell geometry assumptions. Another approach proposes the concept of a shadow cluster: a set of BSs to which an MT is likely to attach in the near future. The scheme estimates the probability of each MT being in any cell within the shadow cluster for future time intervals, based on knowledge about individual MTs' dynamics and call holding patterns.