WLC14-6: A Location-Based Vertical Handoff Decision Algorithm for Heterogeneous Mobile Networks

Next-generation mobile communication systems will provide "always best connected" services to mobile users via cellular networks that provide wide area coverage for global access, complemented by broadband wireless networks (BWNs) at hotspots to accommodate higher traffic intensities. In such a heterogeneous network, a user entering a hotspot has the option to handoff to the BWN for better services. However, each vertical handoff also causes some momentary service degradations. Since the enhancement of user satisfaction by a vertical handoff depends on the user\´s sojourn time in the BWN, the handoff decision should consider the user\´s location and mobility, in order to optimize the user\´s satisfaction. In this paper, we propose a novel vertical handoff decision algorithm based on dynamic programming, utilizing the location information of mobile users. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the algorithm compared with other recently proposed schemes.