An Enhanced Mobile IPv6 with Multicast Function and Hierarchical Design

Researchers: Sabira Khatun and Borhanuddin Mohd. Ali

The present invention relates to Internet Protocol version six (IPv6) as a wireless network infrastructure. More particularly, it provides a method to improve the handover delay in Mobile IPv6 so as to offer uninterrupted on-line experience in internet-based applications such as in entertainment, games, video conferencing or video streaming while on the move.

Mobile IPv6 (MIPv6) mechanism requires some handover algorithm when it changes its point of attachment in the Internet. This causes mobile IPv6 to incur long delays and high signalling load to the backbone networks and the attendant packet loss. This limitation is due to:

(i) the lack of hierarchy and fast handover mechanism in the mobile IPv6 mobility management, and

(ii) it addresses the micro mobility in the same way as macro mobility while from a recent survey 80% of the mobile users stay in micro mobility environment (i.e. in the same domain under the same Multicast Router).

An enhanced micro mobility handover algorithm is developed on top of mobile IPv6. This invention solves the problem of long delay and packet loss incurred during handover through enhancement of handover management in Mobile IPv6. It integrates hierarchical concept and multicast function. Hierarchical design is used to shield the micro mobility from macro mobility in order to reduce location update signal and signalling traffic within micro level network while multicasting is used to send packets to Mobile Node (MN) through base stations that are near to MN. This reduces handover delay that causes packet lost when MN is roaming.

A representative system (real-time test-bed) comprises of both software and a hardware element has been developed. Through the test-bed, it is shown that handover delay, packet loss and signalling traffic can be improved in average by 90% over the presently used Mobile IPv6.

The use of the technology of this invention is expected to guarantee no packet loss while reducing handover delay by 94.32% and packet delay by 84.43% during handover. This product is patent-pending (PI 20062478).

AWARDS WON

Excellence Research Award 2006 (UPM/ Malaysian Higher Research Ministry)
Best Invention— The Asia-Pacific Rim 2006 Award (INPEX 2006)
Special Award— Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA), INPEX 2006
GOLD— Invention and New Product Exposition, Engineering Invention (INPEX 2006)
GOLD— Invention and New Product Exposition, Comp. Software Development (INPEX 2006)
BRONZE— Invention and New Product Exposition, Telecommunication Invention (INPEX 2006)
SILVER—Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE 2006)
BRONZE—UPM Invention, Research & Innovation Exhibition (PRPI 2005).
Reader Enquiry
Department of Computer & Communication Systems Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia
Tel: +603 8946 6435
E-mail: sabira@eng.upm.edu.my