Seamless handover support over heterogeneous networks using FMIPv6 with definitive L2 triggers

Abstract

Various wireless communication systems have been developed and will be integrated into an IP-based network to offer end users the Internet access anytime and anywhere. In heterogeneous multi-access networks, one of main issues is to manage nodes' mobility with session continuity and minimal handover latency. In order to support the mobility of mobile nodes, MIPv6 has been proposed by IETF. Even though MIPv6 provides a solution to handling nodes' mobility in IPv6 networks, there is a significant problem due to its inability to support a seamless handover caused by long latency and high packet losses during a handover. FMIPv6 has been proposed to reduce MIPv6 handover latency by using an address preconfiguration method with the aid of L2 triggers. Current research defines a general L2 trigger model for seamless handover operation, but it does not address the exact timing and definitive criteria of L2 triggers which causes a significant effect on the handover performance of FMIPv6. This paper considers the available timing and accurate criteria of L2 triggers. With the definitive L2 triggers, we present a practical handover scenario to integrate L2 and L3 layers for low handover latency and low number of packet losses during a handover. We also study the impact of definitive L2 triggers on the handover performance of the FMIPv6 protocol in real testbeds and prove that the FMIPv6 protocol performs its handover operation prior to the L2 handover and obtains a seamless handover.