An analytic network process and trapezoidal interval‐valued fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution network access selection method. (12th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Skondras, Emmanouil; Sgora, Aggeliki; Michalas, Angelos; Vergados, Dimitrios D.
• Is Part Of: International journal of communication systems. Volume 29:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 307
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2014-09-12
• Subjects: network selection -- vertical handover -- MADM -- ANP -- TOPSIS -- interval value fuzzy numbers; Telecommunication systems -- Periodicals; 621.382
• DOI: 10.1002/dac.2833
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1074-5351

Abstract

Summary: Next generation wireless networks consist of many heterogeneous access technologies that should support various service types with different quality of service (QoS) constraints, as well as user, requirements and provider policies. Therefore, the need for network selection mechanisms that consider multiple factors must be addressed. In this paper, a network selection method is proposed by applying the analytic network process to estimate the weights of the selection criteria, as well as a fuzzy version of technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution to perform the ranking of network alternatives. The method is applied to a heterogeneous network environment providing different QoS classes and policy characteristics. Each user applies the method to select the most appropriate network, which satisfies his or her requirements in respect of his or her service‐level agreement (SLA). Performance evaluation shows that when the user requests only one service, the proposed method performs better compared to the original technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution, as well as the Fuzzy AHP‐ELECTRE method. Moreover, the proposed method can be applied in cases where a user requires multiple services simultaneously on a device. The sensitivity analysis of the proposed method shows that it can be properly adjusted to conform to network environment changes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Abstract : In this paper, a network selection method is proposed by employing two multi attribute decision‐making methods algorithms: the analytic network process (ANP), which is an extension of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for criteria weights calculation and a fuzzy version of the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) for accomplishing the ranking of the candidate networks. The proposed method considers network QoS characteristics and policies, application requirements and different types of users SLAs to provide advanced connection services. Performance evaluation shows that the proposed method performs better compared to the original TOPSIS and the Fuzzy AHP ‐ ELECTRE (FAE) method when the user requests only one service while it considers users running multiple services simultaneously on a device.