QoS-Based Vertical Handoff Decision Algorithm in Heterogeneous Systems

Vertical handoff is the switching process to provide seamless service among heterogeneous systems. An accurate estimation for utilities of target systems must precede a handoff for the efficient use of system resources. In this paper, we propose a vertical handoff decision algorithm based on the utility function to satisfy wireless QoS. Shannon's capacity is used to maximize throughput and traffic load is considered to utilize systems evenly. The tradeoff between handoff rate and throughput is investigated based on user's mobility. Simulation results show that the utility function effectively increases throughput