Advanced mobility support in next-generation all-IP wireless networks: A cross-layer approach - Part I

Abstract

In next generation wireless networks mobility management is a severe problem that needs careful attention, in order to achieve inter-working of Internet with wireless networks, and to meet the requirement of seamless handoff for real-time and multimedia applications. Advanced mobility support is required to effectively deal with the challenges that mobility poses. Single layer-specific mobility management architectures can hardly provide advanced mobility support required in future all-IP wireless networks. Advanced mobility support calls for a coordination of layers through a well defined cross layer platform to achieve better performance. We propose a mobility scenario driven mobility management architecture that exploits cross layer design in wireless terminals to provide seamless terminal mobility in future all-IP wireless network. Each mobility scenario uses a specific cost function that incorporates parameters necessary to support handoff decision in that particular environment.