An integrated IP-layer handover solution for next generation IP-based wireless network

A prospect of next generation wireless networks is an IP-based convergence of heterogeneous radio access networks and mobile terminals that will have the capability of accessing multiple wireless networks. It is widely anticipated that IP-layer handover is a feasible solution to global mobility. However, the performance of IP-layer handover (L3 handover) based on basic Mobile IP cannot support real time services very well due to long L3 handover delay. Another challenge is that multi-access support results in many IP-layer handover types to be supported in many ways and one handover mechanism cannot fit all network situations and service requirements. An integrated IP-layer handover solution is necessary for future mobility management. Enhanced IP-layer handover mechanisms, based on Mobile IP, are proposed to reduce L3 handover delay and packet loss rate, and an adaptive handover control scheme is introduced to optimize the selection of handover mechanisms and L3 handover decisions. Seamless network connectivity can be obtained by the integrated handover solution.