Optimum multi-service access selection over heterogeneous wireless networks

Abstract

This paper proposes a methodology to analyse connectivity over highly heterogeneous wireless networks. We consider a scenario comprising a large number of access elements and end users, who move and initiate different services according to some patterns. The framework that has been implemented takes periodic snapshots, each of them used to pose a different optimization problem. We take into account the intention of end users to have a connection (those with an active service), disregarding idle users, as well as the outcome of the previous problems (for instance, the base station a particular user was connected to). The feasibility of the methodology proposed in this work is assessed with a scenario over which we study different access selection strategies including the following criteria: price of resources, service affinity towards particular technologies as well as the willingness to reduce the number of handovers. The results validate the proposed methodology and highlight the impact that an appropriate design of the access selection strategy may have.