Fuzzy-Based Handover Scheme for 5G Heterogeneous Networks

Heterogeneous networks allow the systems to switch network connections between different types of access technology based on the network quality. However, frequent handovers between networks can occur when a mobile terminal (MT) travels at high speed in heterogeneous wireless networks, especially in small cell networks. This can lead to a degradation in the quality of service to users. To effectively mitigate the handover challenges in heterogeneous network environments, the development and implementation of a robust handover decision-making algorithm are imperative. In his paper, a novel handover algorithm that combines dwell-time and Fuzzy-TOPSIS algorithms to minimize unnecessary handovers in heterogenous networks is proposed. The dwell-time prediction algorithm estimates the dwell time in a cell, while the Fuzzy-TOPSIS algorithm evaluates the criteria weights and ranks network candidates based on user preference and service requirements. In a comparative analysis, the proposed algorithm is assessed against the conventional TOPSIS algorithms. The simulation outcomes indicate that the proposed algorithm achieves a noteworthy reduction in handovers, with a decrease of up to 77.2% compared to the TOPSIS approach and a 75% reduction compared to the Fuzzy-AHP-TOPSIS algorithm. The proposed Fuzzy-TOPSIS approach could be used to enhance the quality of service in 5G heterogeneous networks.