A framework for optimal cost media streaming in three-tier wireless networks

Heterogeneous networking is envisioned as a key solution for accommodating the traffic surge resulting from resource demanding applications such as video streaming. In this paper, the diversity in cost, coverage, and resource availability in heterogeneous systems is exploited to minimize the streaming session cost in three-tier integrated systems. A sub-optimal streaming decision engine is developed to overcome the complexity of the original problem whose solution contradicts with both the limited processing capabilities of end-user equipment and short handoff delay requirements. Our results show that the developed framework achieves significant monetary cost savings in comparison to typical greedy streaming behavior. Additionally, our solution can be easily tuned to compromise the tradeoff between monetary, signaling and quality cost components.