Cross-layer optimization and handover managements in next generation Mutlihomed networks

Future generation multi-homed networks are envisioned to be a combination of diverse but complementary access technologies. Internetworking these types of networks will provide mobile users with ubiquitous connectivity across a wide range of networking environments. The integration of existing and emerging heterogeneous wireless networks requires the design of intelligent handovers and location management schemes to enable mobile users to switch network access and experience uninterrupted service continuity anywhere, anytime. Real deployment of such mobility strategies remains a significant challenge. In this paper, we focus on failure detection, locator pair exploration and handover management. This paper presents an employment over the reachability protocol (REAP) behaviour to improve the performance on Transport and Link Layers, which is achieved by specific Shim6 protocol messages. This paper presents a handover technique that aims to reduce the number of handovers the mobile device will face, keeping in mind providing mobility over a wide range of access technologies. Furthermore, this paper also discusses some mechanism aimed to reduce the amount of power needed to keep the interfaces actively scanning for access points in a multi-home Mobile host (mhMH).