Abstract: A network selection algorithm based on multi-attribute decision for heterogeneous networks was proposed according to how to choose and use the right parameters to select the most appropriate network on the characteristics of different services,considering the network load balancing to reduce handoff times and the probability of handoff blo-cking.This algorithm takes the network objective attributes and user preferences into account.Two decisions are made.The first decision uses TOPSIS algorithm,considering only the network objective attributes.When the alternative network solutions are very close,the second decision is made.The second decision uses AHP to calculate the weights and uses ANP to eliminate the dependence between the attributes,then creates utility functions,and selects the most appropriate network on the values of the utility functions.Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm takes the network load balancing into consideration and reduces the average handoff rate and the average probability of handoff blo-cking effectively.

Key words: Network selection,TOPSIS,AHP,ANP,Utility function