Spectrum handoff scheme with multiple attributes decision making for optimal network selection in cognitive radio networks

It is envisaged that in future Cognitive Radio (CR) networks deployment, multiple radio access networks may coexist. The networks may have different characteristics in terms of multiple attributes. CRs will have choices of selecting the optimal network out of the available networks. Optimal network selection is a challenging task that can be performed by spectrum handoff with Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM). The spectrum handoff decision with MADM provides wider and optimal choice with quality of service. This motivates the development of a spectrum handoff scheme with MADM methods such as simple additive weighting, a technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution, a grey relational analysis and a cost function based method, which is the objective of this study. The CR preferences are based on voice, video and data services, called triple play services. The numerical results show that all MADM methods are effective for selecting the optimal network for spectrum handoff with a reduced complexity for the spectrum handoff decision. The paper shows that the proposed spectrum handoff scheme can be effectively implemented to select the optimal network according to triple play services in CR networks.