A Lightweight AI Model for Anomaly Detection in Wireless Networks

Detecting network anomalies is critical for wireless network security and reliability. Traditional AI methods often require substantial computational resources, particularly when deployed on cloud servers, leading to increased network load and latency. In contrast, deploying AI models directly on end devices enables real-time data processing at the source, facilitating faster anomaly detection and mitigation. We propose a lightweight hierarchical AI model where initial inferences are made by a simple model and outputs confidence scores. Using a modified TOPSIS-based method, we determine an optimal confidence score threshold. Inferences below this threshold are forwarded to a more complex model for accurate analysis, reducing overall computational demands while maintaining high detection performance. Our approach is tested on a 5 G network dataset, demonstrating competitive performance compared to other anomaly detection models.