Vertical handoff decision algorithm for heterogeneous wireless networks based on 2-level Analytic Hierarchy process

Currently there exists various wireless technologies deployed around the world. Development of multi-mode terminals, increasing user demands and the growing interest of service providers to offer diverse applications have motivated the integration of heterogeneous wireless networks which enable the users to move seamlessly across different types of networks and to enjoy anytime, anywhere services. One of the technical challenges with this integration is vertical handoff decision that is used to choose the optimal network depending upon the type and service requirements demanded by the user´s application. This paper presents a vertical handoff decision algorithm based on two-level Analytic Hierarchy Process. The algorithm decides the optimal target network among Wi-Fi, Wi-Max and CDMA by considering a set of decision parameters including Available bandwidth, Velocity, Throughput, Cost, Security and User Preference.