A Markovian Framework for Availability-Aware Inter-HAPS Handoff in Aerial 6G Networks

In the evolving 6G network, the High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPSs) are still the main factors that provide extended areas of low latency communication. The nature of the continuous service in these types of networks very much depends on the availability of strong inter-HAPS handoff mechanisms. This study suggests using a stochastic model that is a continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC) to represent the inter-HAPS hand-off process, including handoff request arrivals, service dynamics, and the availability of candidate platforms. The number of states in the system is illustrated by a three-dimensional figure which allows it to include aspects of the queue status, ongoing handoff process, and the availability of HAPS. Steady-state analysis is used to find closed-form solutions for major performance measures such as the expected number of packets, delay, and throughput. Conducting numerical experiments provides an opportunity to see how variations in traffic and availability parameters affect system behavior. The results offer valuable insights for designing dependable and responsive handoff protocols in aerial communication systems.