Simplified and improved multiple attributes alternate ranking method for vertical handover decision in heterogeneous wireless networks

Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) is one of the best candidate network selection methods used for Vertical Handover Decision (VHD) in heterogeneous wireless networks (4G). Selection of the network in MADM is predominantly decided by two steps, i.e., attribute normalization and weight calculation. This dependency in MADM results in an unreliable network selection for handover, and in a rank reversal (abnormality) problem during the removal and insertion of the network in the network selection list. Hence, this paper proposes a Simplified and Improved Multiple Attributes Alternate Ranking method referred to as SI-MAAR to eliminate the attribute normalization and weight calculation methods, thereby solving the rank reversal problem. Further, the MATLAB simulation results demonstrate that the proposed SI-MAAR method outperforms MADM methods such as TOPSIS, SAW, MEW and GRA with respect to the network selection reliability and rank reversal problems. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.