Fast Handover Support in Wireless LAN based Networks

摘要

This paper addresses the optimization of handovers in a Wireless LAN/Mobile IPv4/v6 environment by controlling the link layer handover process directly at the mobile node's side. One successful way to improve system performance of mobile clients in Wireless LAN multimedia networks is to use efficient and fast handover mechanisms when users move between different access points. We implemented some quality parameters of the wireless link provided by Network Interface Card (NIC) firmware into a network-management software running on the mobile node. This concept allows a mobile user to automatically decide about when to start a handover and to which access point to connect to. The experience shows that our multimedia-enabled solution provides the necessary guidance to monitor and control the handover process without adding new extensions to the already existing Mobile IP standards.