A route optimization scheme by using regional information in mobile networks

NEMO basic solution supports network mobility by using a bi-directional tunnel between a mobile router and its home agent. Yet, the multiple levels of bi-directional tunnels in nested mobile networks lead to significant routing overhead (so-called pinball routing). Non-optimal routing increases bandwidth consumption and transmission delays. The current paper proposes Regional Information-based Route Optimization (RIRO) in which mobile routers maintain a Nested Router List (NRL) to obtain next hop information. RIRO supports nested mobility without the nested tunnel overheads. This is accomplished by using a new routing header, called RIRO Routing Header (RIRO-RH). RIRO has the minimum packet overhead that remained constant, irrespective of how deep the mobile network was nested, in comparison with two earlier proposed schemes - Reverse Routing Header (RRH) and Bi-directional tunnel between HA and Top-level mobile router (BHT).