Priority-based bandwidth allocation in heterogeneous wireless network

In this paper, a priority-based bandwidth allocation in the context of heterogeneous wireless network is studied. By utilizing the mobile terminals with multi-homing capability, which simultaneously accesses bandwidth from different wireless network, a novel utility-based bandwidth allocation approach is introduced. An essential factor is the priority mechanism considering the services priority classification, which means the higher-priority service request can be guaranteed on bandwidth allocation prior to the lower-priority service request. The utility function is used to distinguish both the service priority and the network subscribers compared to other users. The bandwidth allocation problem is formulated as an optimization problem and solved by Lagrangian duality. Numerical results reveal that the optimal bandwidth allocation algorithm can differentiates the priority-based service and utilize all available resources within the network capacity.