An Efficient Vertical Handoff Decision Scheme

The next generation wireless networks are expected to support different applications within a heterogeneous wireless network environment. In such networks, mobile users can use the advantage of diverse networks by switching between them. The most challenging issue in heterogeneous wireless networks is the Always Best Connected (ABC) concept in order to support best connectivity to mobile users anywhere anytime from any network for various applications like multimedia, full motion video and high data rates with appropriate quality of service (QoS). With these emerging needs, interworking of microcellular and macrocellular networks has been accompanied by service providers. However, these networks have different technologies, which make efficient vertical handoff a challenging issue. As traditional handoff decision is mainly based on received signal strength (RSS), vertical handoff decision must take into account other factors like user mobility, network conditions, pricing issues of diverse networks, and user preferences in addition to the received signal strength (RSS).