Enhanced cooperation in heterogeneous wireless networks using coverage adjustment

This paper illustrates an approach to improving the user perceived QoS in heterogeneous networks through the use of a two layered optimization. The top layer views the problem of prediction of the network that would be chosen by a user where the criteria are offered bit rate, price, mobility support and reputation. At the second level, conditional on the strategies chosen by the users, the network operator hypothetically, reconfigures the network, subject to the network constraints of bandwidth and acceptable SNR and optimizes the network coverage to support users who would otherwise not be serviced adequately. This forms an iterative cycle until a solution that optimizes the user satisfaction subject to the adjustments that the network operator can make to mitigate the binding constraints, is found. The process is illustrated through a simple example using a Wi-Fi and a WiMAX network.