We present the design and implementation of an end-to-end architecture for Internet host mobility using dynamic updates to the Domain Name System (DNS) to track host location. Existing TCP connections are retained using secure and efficient connection migration, enabling established connections to seamlessly negotiate a change in endpoint IP addresses without the need for a third party. Our architecture is secure---name updates are effected via the secure DNS update protocol, while TCP connection migration uses a novel set of Migrate options---and provides a pure end-system alternative to routing-based approaches such as Mobile IP. Mobile IP was

Abstract — Mobile IP is the current standard for supporting macromobility of mobile hosts. However, in the case of micro-mobility support, there are several competing proposals. In this paper, we present the design, implementation, and performance evaluation of HAWAII: a domain-based approach for supporting mobility. HAWAII uses specialized path setup schemes which install host-based forwarding entries in specific routers to support intra-domain micro-mobility. These path setup schemes deliver excellent performance by reducing mobility related disruption to user applications. Also, mobile hosts retain their network address while moving within the domain, simplifying QoS support. Furthermore, reliability is achieved through maintaining soft-state forwarding entries for the mobile hosts and leveraging fault detection mechanisms built in existing intradomain routing protocols. HAWAII defaults to using Mobile IP for macromobility, thus providing a comprehensive solution for mobility support in wide-area wireless networks.

Future internetworks will include large numbers of portable devices moving among small wireless cells. We propose a hierarchical mobility management scheme for such networks. Our scheme exploits locality in user mobility to restrict handoff processing to the vicinity of a mobile node. It thus reduces handoff latency and the load on the internetwork. Our design is based on the Internet Protocol (IP) and is compatible with the Mobile IP standard. We also present experimental results for the lowest level of the hierarchy. We implemented our local handoff mechanism on Unix-based portable computers and base stations, and measured its performance on a WaveLAN network. These measurements show that our handoffs are fast enough to avoid noticeable disruptions in interactive voice traffic. For example, our handoff protocol completes less than 10 milliseconds after a mobile node initiates it. Our mechanism also recovers from packet losses suffered during the transition from one cell to another. T...

Wireless access to Internet services will become typical, rather than the exception as it is today. Such a vision presents great demands on mobile networks. Mobile IP represents a simple and scalable global mobility solution but lacks the support for fast handoff control and paging found in cellular telephony networks. In contrast, second- and third-generation cellular systems offer seamless mobility support but are built on complex and costly connection-oriented networking infrastructure that lacks the inherent flexibility, robustness, and scalability found in IP networks. In this article we present Cellular IP, a micro-mobility protocol that provides seamless mobility support in limited geographical areas. Cellular IP, which incorporates a number of important cellular system design principles such as paging in support of passive connectivity, is built on a foundation of IP forwarding, minimal signaling, and soft-state location management. We discuss the design, implementation, ...

This paper describes current and proposed protocols for mobility management for public land mobile network (PLMN)-based networks, mobile Internet protocol (IP), wireless asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and satellite networks. The integration of these networks will be discussed in the context of the next evolutionary step of wireless communication networks. First, a review is provided of location management algorithms for personal communication systems (PCS) implemented over a PLMN network. The latest protocol changes for location registration and handoff are investigated for Mobile IP, followed by a discussion of proposed protocols for wireless ATM and satellite networks. Finally, an outline of open problems to be addressed by the next generation of wireless network service is discussed

Fueled by the large number of powerful light-weight portable computers, the expanding availability of wireless networks, and the popularity of the Internet, there is an increasing demand to connect portable computers to the Internet at any time and in any place. However, the dynamic nature of such connectivity requires more flexible network support than has typically been available for stationary workstations. This paper introduces the following two mechanisms, in the context of Mobile IP [24], to ensure a mobile host's convenient and efficient communication with other hosts in a changing environment. One mechanism supports multiple packet delivery methods (such as regular IP or Mobile IP) and adaptively selects the most appropriate one to use according to the characteristics of each traffic flow. The other mechanism enables a mobile host to make use of multiple active network interfaces simultaneously and to control the selection of the most desirable network interfaces for both outgo...

In this paper, we advocate the use, propose the design, and describe the implementation of an asymmetric transport-layer protocol for mobile systems. Portability of computing equipment is achieved by reduction in the physical parameters, which is facilitated by the ever increasing device integration density. To maintain constant time between recharging, reduction in the battery power of a portable system translates into reduced CPU cycles. Thus, to maintain a constant level of performance of mobile applications, there is the need to reduce the processing load of computing algorithms and communication protocols for mobile devices. One approach to offload processing of communication protocol from a mobile device without sacrificing the performance and features is through the use of asymmetric design. In an asymmetrically designed protocol, peer functions are implemented through algorithms and procedures that are of substantially different complexity, with the lower complexity procedures ...

Introduction Future internetworks will include networks of small wireless cells populated by large numbers of portable devices. Laptop computers and cellular telephones have proven their utility, while continuing advances in miniaturization promise increasingly functional portable devices. Networks of small wireless cells offer high aggregate bandwidth, support low-powered mobile transceivers, and provide accurate location information. In these networks, users will often carry devices across cell boundaries in the midst of data transfers. A handoff mechanism is needed to maintain connectivity as devices move, while minimizing disruption to ongoing transfers. This mechanism should exhibit low latency, incur little or no data loss, and scale to a large internetwork. The Mobile IP standard [22] specifies a general handoff protocol for the Internet, but does not fully meet these goals. Mobile IP can handle both local-area and wide-area movement in both wired and w

this paper, we discuss several emerging standards that relate to wireless LAN systems. These standards include two physical and link layer standards, IEEE 802.11 and ETSI HIPERLAN, as well as a mobile networking standard, Mobile IP, and some developing standards for wireless link management. In this paper, we focus on the use of radio frequency wireless LANs, as opposed to infrared wireless systems. For radio frequency wireless LANs, the availability of

In this paper, we propose a fast and efficient handoff scheme to handle the movements of mobile nodes among small wireless cells at the fringes of the Internet. Our scheme adopts a hierarchical mobility management architecture to restrict the handoff processing overheads within the vicinity of the mobile node, and uses multicast as the packet forwarding mechanism to deliver packets to multiple base stations within the vicinity of the mobile node to achieve fast handoff performance. Our scheme is based on the Internet Protocol (IP) and is compatible with Mobile IP and its route optimization option. We also present simulation results for our simulation using the Network Simulator (ns2). The simulations show that our handoff scheme is fast enough to meet the requirements of an interactive voice communication session. The first packet from the new base station arrives at the mobile node within 10 ms after the mobile node initiates a handoff. Hence our scheme is suitable for roaming mobil...