Optimization of Vertical Handover Performance Using Elimination Based MCDM Algorithm

Abstract

In heterogeneous networks environment, Vertical Handover Decision (VHD) algorithms help mobile terminals to choose the best network between all the available networks. VHD algorithms provide the QoS to a wide range of applications anywhere at any time. In this paper, a generic and novel solution to solve the Vertical Handover (VHO) problem has been developed. This solution contains two major subsystems: The first subsystem is called elimination system. Elimination system is received the different VHO criteria such as received signal strength, network load balancing and mobile station speed from the different available networks. After that, the inappropriate alternatives are eliminated based on the elimination conditions. The second subsystem is a Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) system that chooses the appropriate alternative from the remaining alternatives of the elimination phase. For simulate the proposed solution, MATLAB program is used with aid of MATLAB-based toolbox that is called RUdimentary Network Emulator (RUNE). The combination of both subsystems avoids the processing delay caused by unnecessary computation over available networks which do not ensure connection performance. Also it avoids increasing the number of unnecessary handovers, ping pong effect, blocking rate and dropping rate by reducing the handover failure rate. A performance analysis is done and results are compared to other reference algorithms. These results demonstrate a significant improvement over other reference algorithms in terms of handover failure rate, percentage of satisfied users, and percentage of the low cost network usage.