A handover framework for seamless service support between wired and wireless networks

This paper proposes low latency handover procedure for seamless connectivity and QoS support between wired (e.g. Ethernet) and wireless (e.g. WLAN, WiBro (802.16-compatible), CDMA) networks by the mobile-assisted and server-initiated handover strategy. It is assumed that the server decides the best target network considering network status and user preferences. In this procedure, a mobile terminal associates with the wireless link decided at the server in advance and receives CoA as well. When handover occurs without the prediction in wired networks, the server performs fast binding update using physical handover trigger through the MIH (media independent handover) function. As a result, a mobile terminal does not need to perform L2 and L3 handover during handover so that this procedure decreases handover latency and loss