Game-theory-based load balancing technique for vertical handoff in next generation networks

Abstract

In the next generation networks, during vertical handoff, it is good practice to balance the network load to increase the efficiency and reduce the overhead. In this paper, we propose to model a game theory-based load balancing technique for vertical handoff in next generation networks. Initially the network load is defined based on the QoS service classes that includes UGS, rtPS, ertPS, nrtPS, and BE and performance parameters that includes throughput for uplink and downlink, delay, battery power and signal strength. This helps in deciding the suitable mobile stations for transferring from overloaded base station to lightly loaded base stations. Further for balancing the load, a game theory model is applied. In this approach, the total load of the overloaded users and battery capacity are checked in order to determine the number of satisfied users which corresponds to the utility function. By simulation results, we show that the proposed approach increases the efficiency, decreases the load and overhead.