Soft and Hard Hand Off

SOFT AND HARD HAND OFF
CHARLSE WAINAINA ICT-G-4-1558-21
Soft Handoff:
Soft handoff, also known as soft handover, is a sophisticated technique employed in mobile
computing to ensure uninterrupted connectivity as a mobile device transitions between different
coverage areas or cells within a cellular network. This method allows the mobile device to maintain
simultaneous connections with multiple base stations during the handover process. Here's a deeper
exploration of soft handoff:
1. Seamless Transition: Soft handoff enables a seamless transition for mobile devices moving across
cell boundaries. By allowing the mobile device to communicate with both the current serving cell
and neighboring cells, soft handoff ensures that there is no interruption in the data or voice
connection during the handover process.
2. Overlapping Coverage: One of the key features of soft handoff is its ability to operate in areas
where multiple base stations provide overlapping coverage. This redundancy in coverage helps
mitigate signal variations, interference, and other environmental factors that may degrade the
quality of service.
3. Improved Call Quality: Soft handoff contributes to improved call quality by leveraging the
diversity of signals received from multiple base stations. The mobile device can select the strongest
signal or combine signals from different base stations to enhance reception quality, reduce noise,
and minimize call drops.
4. Complexity and Overhead: While soft handoff offers significant benefits in terms of call quality
and reliability, it is more complex to implement compared to hard handoff. Soft handoff requires
additional signaling overhead and coordination between base stations to manage the simultaneous
connections with the mobile device.
5. Compatibility: Soft handoff is commonly used in cellular technologies such as CDMA (Code
Division Multiple Access) and WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), where it has
been standardized and optimized to deliver seamless handover capabilities.
Hard Handoff:
Hard handoff, also known as break-before-make handover, is a conventional handover technique

where the mobile device disconnects from the current serving cell before establishing a connection
with the target cell. Here's a closer look at hard handoff:
1. Momentary Disruption: Unlike soft handoff, where the mobile device maintains connections with
multiple base stations simultaneously, hard handoff involves a brief interruption in service as the
mobile device switches from one cell to another. During this transition, there may be a temporary
loss of signal, resulting in a brief service disruption or call drop.
2. Simplified Implementation: Hard handoff is simpler to implement compared to soft handoff, as it

does not require the coordination of multiple base stations or the management of simultaneous
connections. This simplicity leads to reduced signaling overhead and lower complexity in network
management.
3. Common Usage: Hard handoff is commonly used in cellular networks based on GSM (Global
System for Mobile Communications) and LTE (Long-Term Evolution) technologies, where it has
been standardized and widely adopted as the default handover method.
4. Efficiency: While hard handoff may result in momentary service disruptions, it is more efficient
in terms of network resources and signaling overhead compared to soft handoff. The simplicity of
hard handoff makes it a practical choice for networks with high mobility and large numbers of
mobile subscribers.
In summary, soft handoff and hard handoff are two distinct techniques used in mobile computing to
manage the handover process as mobile devices move between different cells within a cellular
network. Soft handoff offers seamless connectivity, improved call quality, and overlapping
coverage, albeit with increased complexity and signaling overhead. Hard handoff, on the other
hand, provides a simpler and more efficient approach to handover, albeit with brief service
disruptions during the transition. The choice between soft and hard handoff depends on factors such
as network architecture, technology standards, and quality of service requirements.

Soft and Hard Hand Off

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Soft and Hard Hand Off

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Soft and Hard Hand Off

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SOFT AND HARD HAND OFF

CHARLSE WAINAINA ICT-G-4-1558-21

Hard handoff, also known as break-before-make handover, is a conventional handover technique

2. Simplified Implementation: Hard handoff is simpler to implement compared to soft handoff, as it

You might also like