Cross-layer integrated mobility and service management utilizing smart routers in mobile IPv6 systems

Abstract

In this paper we model and analyze a cross-layer integrated mobility and service management scheme called DMAPwSR in Mobile IPv6 environments with the goal to minimize the overall mobility and service management cost for serving mobile users with diverse mobility and service characteristics. The basic idea of DMAPwSR is that each mobile node (MN) can utilize its application-layer knowledge to choose smart routers to be its dynamic mobility anchor points (DMAPs) to balance the cost associated with mobility services vs. packet delivery services. These smart routers are just access routers for MIPv6 systems except that they are capable of processing binding messages from the MN and storing the current location of the MN in the routing table for forwarding service packets destined to the MN. The MN's DMAP changes dynamically as the MN roams across the MIPv6 network. Furthermore the DMAP service area also changes dynamically reflecting the MN's mobility and service behaviors dynamically. Unlike previous mobility management protocols such as HMIPv6 that focus only on mobility management, DMAPwSR considers integrated mobility and service management. We develop an analytical model based on stochastic Petri nets to analyze DMAPwSR and compare its performance against MIPv6 and HMIPv6. We validate analytical solutions obtained through extensive simulation including sensitivity analysis of simulation results with respect to the network coverage model, the MN's residence time distribution and the DMAP service area definition.