Heterogeneous access network(s) selection in multi-interface radio devices

Abstract

The advent of multi-interface smart radio devices brings the flexibility of simultaneous access to multiple heterogeneous access networks (ANs) for making a significant improvement in the network utilization by balancing the network load and avoiding congestion. However, each heterogeneous access technology poses its own constraints in terms of data rate, coverage, availability, latency, packet loss rate, usage price etc. Thus, a novel selection mechanism must be devised to exploit the “best” available access network(s) to best serve the wireless users. Assuming users can ask for a required amount of bandwidth from the ANs, we model the heterogeneous access network selection mechanism from a game theoretic perspective by formulating a user preference based utility expression using three major parameters: expected data rate, latency, and usage cost. Then we analyze the utility model to find the users' optimal bandwidth demands from the selected ANs that maximize their net payoff. Theoretical analysis of the utility expression proves the existence of optimal bandwidth demand in the single and multiple network selection, and we derive the open/closed form expression for optimal bandwidth too. The results from the simulations conducted corroborate the theoretical optimal bandwidth and number of packets assigned for the selected network(s) with the corresponding experimental values.