Dynamic access network selection with QoS parameters estimation: a step closer to ABC

Always best connected (ABC) services allows multi- mode mobile terminals to stay connected to the best available networks, at anytime according to user preferences. One of the key aspects in realizing such ABC service is mainly attributed to an effective and dynamic access network selection process. However, most of the previous works consider the access network selection process as a static optimization problem which fails to address the dynamic QoS conditions intrinsic in wireless networks. One of the main challenges remains as no efficient way in obtaining dynamic QoS parameters such as packet delay, packet loss and jitter. In this paper, we proposed a novel dynamic access network selection algorithm capable of adapting to prevailing network conditions. Our algorithm is a dual stage estimation process where network selection performed using sequential Bayesian estimation relies on dynamic QoS parameters estimated through bootstrap approximation. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm which outperforms static optimization approach in a highly efficient manner.