Hybrid network selection strategy by using M-AHP/E-TOPSIS for heterogeneous networks

Abstract

The most challenging problem in the heterogeneous wireless networks is ensuring seamless network selection. For that reason, a large variety of algorithms based on multi attribute decision making (MADM) have been proposed to deal with this issue. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) represent two MADM methods which are exhaustively used in the literature to cope with the network selection problem. However both of these methods still suffer from the ranking abnormality and the number of handoffs. Thus, we aim to propose a hybrid network selection strategy based multiple analytic hierarchy process (M-AHP) and the enhanced technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (E-TOPSIS). The M-AHP method represents an extension of AHP which is used to weigh each criterion. While the E-TOPSIS method represents an extension of TOPSIS which is used to rank the alternatives. Simulation results demonstrate that our hybrid strategy for network selection can dealing with the limitations of MADM methods.