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IEEE 802.21
802.21 is an IEEE standard published in 2008. The standard supports algorithms enabling seamless handover
between networks of the same type as well as handover between different network types also called Media
independent handover (MIH) or vertical handover. The standard provides information to allow handing over to and
from cellular, 802.11, 802.15, 802.16 and 3GPP networks through different handover mechanisms.
The IEEE 802.21 working group started work in March 2004. More than 30 companies have joined the working
group. The group produced a first draft of the standard including the protocol definition in May 2005. The letter
ballot process began and subsequent revisions to the draft are in progress as of September 2006, with almost all
comments resolved.
Implementation
Many vendors are building wireless products and participating in the development of the 802.21 standard. Current
technologies such as 802.11 that accomplish handover use software to accomplish handovers and suggest that
software will also be the way that handover will be implemented by 802.21. The use of software as a means to
implement 802.21 should not cause large increases in the cost of networking devices.
Examples
• A user should be able to unplug from an 802.3 network and get handed off to an 802.11 network.
• A cellular phone user in the midst of a call should be able to enter an 802.11 network hotspot and be seamlessly
handed off from a GSM network to the 802.11 network and back again when leaving the hotspot.
IEEE 802.21 2
Similar technologies
Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology is basically a mobile-centric version of 802.21. UMA is said to
provide roaming and handover between GSM, UMTS, Bluetooth and 802.11 networks. For more information on
UMA you can go to http:/ / www. umatoday. com/ . Since June 19 2005, UMA is a part of the ETSI 3GPP
standardization process under the GAN (Generic Access Network) Group.
WiOptiMo technology enables any application running on a device to use the best internet connection among all the
wired/wireless access providers available, guaranteeing persistence in case of weak or no signal and managing the
switch among them (when needed/convenient) in a transparent way, without interrupting the active
application/session. For more information you can read A Cross-Layering and Autonomic Approach to Optimized
Seamless Handover [1] or "WiSwitch: Seamless Handover between Multi-Provider Networks" on IEEE Explore [2].
External links
• IEEE 802.21 web site [3]
• Is Cellular Handoff Nigh? article [4]
• Internet Protocol Journal Introduction to IEEE 802.21 [5]
==
References
[1] http:/ / hal. inria. fr/ inria-00001015/ en/
[2] http:/ / ieeexplore. ieee. org/ Xplore/ guesthome. jsp
[3] http:/ / www. ieee802. org/ 21/
[4] http:/ / www. wi-fiplanet. com/ columns/ article. php/ 3310401
[5] http:/ / www. cisco. com/ web/ about/ ac123/ ac147/ archived_issues/ ipj_12-2/ 122_ieee. html
Article Sources and Contributors 3
License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
http:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/