Multi-criteria vertical handover decision in heterogeneous network

Heterogeneous networks provide more flexibility in term of service continuation and capacity to mobile users by having multi-layer networks of different wireless system and interfaces. However, in such network seamless vertical handoff across different networks becomes a challenging and crucial process. Conventional vertical handover decision algorithm uses RSSI as a main parameter to decide handover. In this work, we propose multi-criteria parameters to decide vertical handover. In addition to RSSI, there are other parameters that are put into consideration: user speed, traffic class and network occupancy of the networks. Simulation result shows that by using multi-criteria parameters, the number of handoff is decreased compared to number of handoff using conventional VHO decision.