A detailed characterization of the handover process using mobile IPv6 in 802.11 networks

Future wireless networks is entirely based on the IP protocol. High degrees of portability available in an all-IP network is possible only if we are able to address the insufficiencies of mobility management. One of the major insufficiencies plaguing mobility management is the delay associated with handover management. This paper discusses a characterization of the handover process for mobile IPv6 in 802.11 networks using OPNET®. The results of the characterization are then presented in the form of a detailed breakdown of the delay contributions associated with a handover in layer-2 and layer-3. The results show that on average, layer-3 contributes more than 90% of the handover delays, while layer-2 contributes less than 10 %. Further, it shows that the most prominent source of delay is layer-3 move detection accounting for 59% of the overall layer-2 and layer-3 handover delays. Finally, recommendations are made on how to reduce these delays.