Analysis and evaluation of layer 2 assisted fast mobile IPv6 handovers in a WLAN environment

While handover management has been traditionally using radio technology specific mechanisms, the need for integration of this diverse network environment has obviated the ´push´ of the handover functionality to the access-agnostic IP layer. In this context, we study and analyze the implications of the link-layer agnostic operation of the IP handover control on the handoff performance, having as a reference the fast mobile IPv6 protocol. We show that the behavior of the protocol is highly dependent on the timely availability of link layer information - this determines whether a reactive or a proactive operation is executed. Last, we provide some quantitative results for performance metrics such as the disruption time and the packet loss perceived, by a single mobile host under varying conditions of link-layer trigger time availability, buffering capabilities and beacon intervals.