The vertical hando_ schemes for heterogeneous wireless networks are presented in the thesis. A heterogeneous network consists of multiple tiers of available wireless net-works, framed as K-tier heterogeneous wireless network (KHWN). A typical KHWN adopted in the thesis consists of Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and Long Term Evolution (LTE). The hando_ scheme considers the Receiv- ing Signal Strength (RSS)and Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) with the tra_c cost as the key parameters for vertical hando_ decision making process. The key parameter RSS is estimated through a proposed path loss model based on local terrain and is observed to be better as compared to the earlier empirical models. With the local terrain input, the path loss model and RSS has been estimated for GSM, UMTS, WLAN and LTE networks. Following this a VHO scheme is proposed for voice and data communication. Subsequently this SINR and a KHWN consisting of multi-tier with the four types of services viz. voice call, video streaming, web brows- ing and telemetry are considered. In this multi-hierarchy decision making process the best suited Analytical and Hierarchical Process (AHP) is applied, for the decision making process in VHO. The proposed scheme of vertical hando_ provides higher QoS than the earlier algorithms of Combined SINR based Vertical Hando_ (CSVH) and Multi-dimensional SINR based vertical hando_ (MSVH). Also the unnecessary VHO are controlled by the proposed scheme. The result shows that the proposed scheme provides low cost tra_c and overall system throughput with a control of unnecessary hando_s for all kinds of services within the KHWN
