Optimized Access Network Selection in a Combined WLAN/LTE Environment

Multimode terminals equipped with multiple radio access technologies are becoming increasingly popular. At the same time, network operators and service providers seek opportunities to deliver seamless services cost effectively, leveraging a variety of radio access technologies using both licensed and unlicensed spectrum. In order to standardize the operations of such complex environments 3GPP is currently working on IP flow mobility and mobile data offload solutions. This article proposes and evaluates a new access network selection procedure in such a combined WLAN/LTE environment. The proposed solution takes not only parameters available in the mobile node and its current and candidate access networks into account, but performs an optimization on the heterogeneous wireless network level as well. An optimization model based on an approximate solution to the well-known bin packing problem is presented. Also, there is a signaling scheme for distribution handling presented. Results from simulations performed in OPNET Modeler show improvements compared to basing handover decisions on locally available information only.