Optimized Mobile MPLS

A novel scheme for integrating Mobile IPv6 and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) named the Optimized Mobile MPLS (OMMPLS) is proposed. The aim of OMMPLS is to make the process of registration (or binding refresh) and Label Switching Path (LSP) setup (or maintenance) be carried out simultaneously to reduce the handover latency and signaling redundancy. To realize the aim, a new IPv6 Hop-by-Hop Options Header named the MPLS Header is defined, which includes some information about setting up or maintaining LSP. The MPLS Header is put in the Binding Update or the Binding Acknowledgement message of Mobile IPv6 protocol. When the network nodes receive such messages, they set up or maintain LSP in terms of MPLS Header. In addition, OMMPLS can integrate Hierarchical Mobile IPv6 naturally, thus realizing the fast re-building LSP after the mobile user roams into another subnet within a region. Analyses show that the handover latency and the LSP setup latency of OMMPLS are both smaller than those of the existing scheme, which means the optimization is realized.