A method of managing a communication in a heterogeneous wireless communication network comprising a plurality of access technologies (18, 22), the method comprising: controlling a vertical handoff of a wireless device between network nodes having different types of access technologies, utilizing a processor coupled to the wireless communication network, characterized in that the method further comprises: analyzing a usage pattern of the wireless device in the wireless communication network, utilizing the processor, the usage pattern being a pattern of wireless device usage location with respect to time, and comprising a time estimate and location estimate corresponding to a time and a location of access by the wireless device (40, 42) to the wireless communication network; determining a predicted path for the wireless device based on the usage pattern; predicting a decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) in a link (14, 16, 22, 24, 30, 34, 36) in the wireless communication network based on the predicted path utilizing the processor, and wherein the predicted decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) comprises a location estimate and a time estimate of the usage pattern of the wireless device; and controlling the vertical handoff of the wireless device based on the predicted decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) to reduce negative effects of inefficient vertical handoff. controlling a vertical handoff of a wireless device between network nodes having different types of access technologies, utilizing a processor coupled to the wireless communication network, characterized in that the method further comprises: analyzing a usage pattern of the wireless device in the wireless communication network, utilizing the processor, the usage pattern being a pattern of wireless device usage location with respect to time, and comprising a time estimate and location estimate corresponding to a time and a location of access by the wireless device (40, 42) to the wireless communication network; determining a predicted path for the wireless device based on the usage pattern; predicting a decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) in a link (14, 16, 22, 24, 30, 34, 36) in the wireless communication network based on the predicted path utilizing the processor, and wherein the predicted decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) comprises a location estimate and a time estimate of the usage pattern of the wireless device; and controlling the vertical handoff of the wireless device based on the predicted decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) to reduce negative effects of inefficient vertical handoff. analyzing a usage pattern of the wireless device in the wireless communication network, utilizing the processor, the usage pattern being a pattern of wireless device usage location with respect to time, and comprising a time estimate and location estimate corresponding to a time and a location of access by the wireless device (40, 42) to the wireless communication network; determining a predicted path for the wireless device based on the usage pattern; predicting a decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) in a link (14, 16, 22, 24, 30, 34, 36) in the wireless communication network based on the predicted path utilizing the processor, and wherein the predicted decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) comprises a location estimate and a time estimate of the usage pattern of the wireless device; and controlling the vertical handoff of the wireless device based on the predicted decreased signal quality segment (74, 88) to reduce negative effects of inefficient vertical handoff.