Mobility Management Approaches for Mobile IP Networks: Performance Comparison and Use Recommendations

IP multimedia applications are becoming popular in the packet-based wireless networks. The integration of these applications in wireless networks requires the support of seamless terminal mobility. Mobile IP (MIP) has been proposed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to provide global mobility in IP networks. It allows maintaining mobile terminals ongoing communications while moving through IP network. In the MIP protocol, Mobile Terminal (MT) registers with its home network from which it gets a permanent address (home address). This address is stored in the Home Agent (HA). It is used for identification and routing purpose. If MT moves outside the home network visiting a foreign network, it maintains its home address and obtains a new one from the Foreign Agent (FA). This Foreign address is called Care-of-Address (CoA). To allow continuity of ongoing communications between the MT and a remote end point, the MT shall inform the HA of its current location when it moves outside the home network. The HA delivers to MT the intercepted packets by tunneling them to the MT's current point of attachment. IP mobility in wireless networks can be classified into macro- and micromobility. The macromobility is the MT mobility through different administration domains. The micromobility is the MT movements through different subnets belonging to a single network domain.