A hierarchical assignment manager (HAM) improves system throughput in a hierarchical overlay network by taking into account the requested data rates in addition to or instead of the velocities of mobile users within the network. The user population is characterized by the statistical description of their user profiles. The entire set of profiles is partitioned along assignment curves into two or more subsets, where each subset corresponds to the assignment to a particular layer of a hierarchical network. The HAM determines assignment curves to optimize the total effective system throughput in a systematic way and can be adapted to time-varying user behavior and profiles. The HAM can be used to decide upon assignment strategies between different layers of an overlay architecture, between different available network technologies, or between competing service providers.