A hybrid decision approach for the association problem in heterogeneous networks

TL;DR

This paper proposes a hybrid decision-making framework for user association in heterogeneous wireless networks, combining decentralized user choices with network-assisted load information to improve efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a hybrid game approach that integrates network broadcasting of load info with user decision-making, enhancing association efficiency in heterogeneous networks.

Findings

Hybrid scheme outperforms purely decentralized approaches.

Bayesian framework effectively models user behavior.

Numerical results show improved QoS in HSDPA and LTE networks.

Abstract

The area of networking games has had a growing impact on wireless networks. This reflects the recognition in the important scaling advantages that the service providers can benefit from by increasing the autonomy of mobiles in decision making. This may however result in inefficiencies that are inherent to equilibria in non-cooperative games. Due to the concern for efficiency, centralized protocols keep being considered and compared to decentralized ones. From the point of view of the network architecture, this implies the co-existence of network-centric and terminal centric radio resource management schemes. Instead of taking part within the debate among the supporters of each solution, we propose in this paper hybrid schemes where the wireless users are assisted in their decisions by the network that broadcasts aggregated load information. We derive the utilities related to the Quality of Service (QoS) perceived by the users and develop a Bayesian framework to obtain the equilibria. Numerical results illustrate the advantages of using our hybrid game framework in an association problem in a network composed of HSDPA and 3G LTE systems.