NeighborCasting: A Fast Handoff Mechanism in Wireless IP Using Neighboring Foreign Agent Information

We propose a new fast handoff mechanism, NeighborCasting, for use in wireless IP networks that utilizes neighboring Foreign Agent information. NeighborCasting is based on the policy of utilizing, or perhaps even wasting, wired bandwidth between Foreign Agents, while minimizing rf (radio frequency) bandwidth exchanges, in order that handoff latency is minimized. We minimize the handoff latency by initiating data forwarding to the possible new foreign agent candidates (i.e., the neighbor foreign agents) at the time that the mobile node initiates the linklayer handoff procedure. This proposal builds upon the Mobile IP handoff procedure by adding a small number of additional message types. The handoff mechanism is a unified procedure for inter-, intra-domain and inter-technology (eg, LAN/WAN or TDMA to CDMA) handoffs and provides flexible choices to the network while maintaining transparency to the mobile node. The neighbor FA discovery process is a distributed and dynamic mechanism, and the fast handoff schemes are scalable and reliable.