An integrated IP-layer handover solution for next generation IP-based wireless network

Prospective of next generation wireless networks is an IP-based convergence of heterogeneous radio access networks and mobile terminals will have capability of accessing multiple wireless networks. It is widely anticipated that IP-layer handover is a feasible solution to global mobility. However, performance of IP-layer handover (L3 handover) based on basic Mobile IP can not support real time services quite well due to long L3 handover delay. Another challenge is that multi-access supports result in many IP-layer handover types to be supported in many ways and one handover mechanism cannot fit all network situations and service requirements. An integrated IP-layer handover solution is necessary for future Mobility Management. In this paper, enhanced IP-layer handover mechanisms based on Mobile IP are proposed to reduce L3 handover delay and Packet Loss Rate, and an adaptive handover control scheme is introduced to optimize selection of handover mechanisms and L3 handover decision. Seamless network connectivity can be obtained by the integrated handover solution..