Scalable network controlled handover with aggregated binding scheme in IP-based cellular networks

Abstract

Modern cellular wireless networks depend on IP-based technologies to accomplish their functions including IP-level Handover. IETF Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6) has been chosen by wireless telecommunication industry to handle IP-level handover. PMIPv6 uses binding update between mobility agents to keep Mobile Node (MN) reachability during mobility session. Considering distance between these mobility agents, individual binding update could result excessive signal. To reduce this cost and increase scalability of IP-level handover procedures, here in this paper we extend PMIPv6 protocol with an Aggregated Proxy Binding Update (A-PBU) scheme. We also propose an algorithm to group MNs with imminent handover, based on link layer intelligence provided by IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover (MIH). A movement equation derived from Fluid-flow model has been used to estimate signaling cost of proposed A-PBU scheme. Quantitative results show a significant reduction in handover signaling cost comparing similar function in base protocol.