Vertical handover based on IEEE802.21 and Mobile IPv6 in UMTS/WLAN networks

Abstract

The internetworking among heterogeneous networks is in demand to provide "always-on" connectivity services. A widespread vision of the fourth generation (4G) mobile networks includes coexistence of current wireless technologies such as WLAN, WiMAX, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The major problem that faces next generation wireless networks (NGWN) is vertical handoff management. The existing handoff management protocols are not sufficient to guarantee handoff support that is transparent to the applications in NGWS. In this paper we propose an approach based on IEEE 802.21 MIH and Mobile IPv6 to optimize vertical handover management for multi-interface MN.