An AP handover scheme using vehicular Wi-Fi connectivity

With the rapid evolution of Wi-Fi technology and the dramatic increase in Wi-Fi coverage, it has become lot more convenient to transfer data by using roadside AP (Access Point). Previous research has proved the feasibility of using vehicular Wi-Fi infrastructure to deliver data packages. However, the issue of optimization of the AP’s selection method under different mobility patterns is still open to research. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes an AP selection scheme that maximizes the potential connection time by using Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) to predict the duration of future connection between the specific vehicle and APs. Choosing APs with maximum connection duration guarantees the reduction of disconnection rate and packet loss, while improving the stability of the data traffic. The experimental results show that our strategy improves the average connection time and reduces the number of handovers, thereby significantly enhancing communication quality.