Connectivity management using multiple attribute decision making in heterogeneous networks

Abstract

Flexible network management solutions for heterogeneous networks have attracted increasing attention for operators in order to meet the today's exponential network traffic demands. Over decades, mobile operators have been developing and deploying new heterogeneous systems into their infrastructures. However, converging the cellular networks with heterogeneous devices such as Carrier Wi-Fi still remains a challenging task for mobile carriers. In this study, a connectivity management platform integrated with a multiple attribute decision making algorithm for efficient Wi-Fi Offloading in heterogeneous wireless networks is presented. To enable this platform, several terminal and network level attributes are periodically collected and sent to the connectivity manager inside operator's network. The connectivity manager runs a multiple attribute decision making algorithm and the decision on the best access network connection is sent back to terminals for execution. The proposed platform can be deployed to mobile operator networks for centralized heterogeneous network management.