Cross-layer binding update for TCP performance enhancement over Mobile IPv6 networks

Mobility support in Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is a de facto standard for allowing nodes to remain connected while moving around in the IPv6 networks. To provide better handoff latency and performance, numerous optimisation techniques were developed. Some of them are single-layer optimisation such as the Hierarchical Mobile IPv6 architecture, which aims at reducing the registration time in network layer. Others are cross-layer optimisation such as the Fast Handover mechanism, which tries to reduce the address resolution time in network layer based on the data-link layer detection. Most of these techniques are focused on data-link and network layer optimisation. The authors propose a cross-layer mechanism, which uses the standard binding update packet in Mobile IPv6 handoff to enhance the overall transmission control protocol performance in transmission. The theoretical analysis and simulations show promising performance enhancements.