Multi-criteria Vertical Handover Decision Algorithm in Heterogeneous Wireless Network

Vertical handover is essential to ensure service continuity in a heterogeneous network. Multi-criteria decision is proposed to reduce handover rate and optimizing usage of network resource compared to the conventional handover decision, which used single criteria. The algorithm is evaluated by assessing the performance in terms of number of handoff, load balance index, and network blocking probability. By implementing the proposed handover decision algorithm, the number of handoff decreased up to 90.81%. The average blocking probability decreases by 23.20% and the load balance index was improved by 68.50%.