Optimal network selection algorithm for heterogeneous wireless networks

Future wireless network must be able to coordinate services within a diverse network environment. One of the challenging problems for coordination is the selection of optimal network depending upon the type of demanding application. There are different types of Internet applications and network interfaces. The quality of service requirement varies from one application to another. The present work considers the integration of three networks, GPRS, IEEE 802.11x and WiMAX. The proposed scheme uses network selection module to select network dynamically depending upon the application type. It also uses a traffic distribution module to distribute the applications dynamically among the various routes within a network. The traffic distribution module also detects the fast handoff mobile nodes and triggers vertical handoff for such mobile nodes to a network having high data rate to prevent their further handoff. This module also calculates network performance parameters and application blocking probability of the network. It also sends the network performance parameters and application blocking probability to network selection module. The network selection module uses the network performance parameters to execute the network selection algorithm and application blocking probability of each network to determine the user satisfaction. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated on the basis of network usage, application blocking probability and user satisfaction.