IP Gets Wheels - Goes Roaming

Mobile IP-Internet Protocol is just part of an overall mobile/wireless strategy. This tutorial is available at TECHtionary.com.

For example, in this tutorial there is an animation of one approach to a MVNO [Mobile Virtual Network Operator]. There will certainly be others.

• Roam-to-Home: cellular-to-Wi-Fi SIP

• Roam-to-Work: cellular to Wi-Fi IP Centrex integration
• Roam-to-Work Enterprise: cellular to IP or digital PBX
• Roam-to-Other (campus, office park, military, port, etc.): Wi-Fi SIP to SMS-Multi-Media Messaging (text messaging), PTT-Push-To-Talk
• Roam-to-HotZone: Cellular to public Wi-Fi Hotspots

While 802.11 cover Layer 2-Data Link handovers, MIP [Mobile IP] provides the Layer 3 Network handover. Depicted in the animated tutorial is IAPP [Inter-Access Point Protocol] 802.11f which provides L2-Layer 2 - DataLink mobility of STA [Stations]. L3 [Layer 3] Network hand-off (transfers) are not specified in 802.11. Also, explained is MIP [Mobile IP] using IPv6 to provide the Layer 3 Network handover. The nAR [new Access Router] which provides the new CoA [Care of IP Address or NCoA from the old or oCoA]. There are also LCoA [Link] and R-CoA [Regional]. Packets send to the MN are initially forwarded by the oAR-old Access Router to the nAR [new Access Router] and simulcast to BOTH ARs after the oAR requests simulcasts and only to the nAR. This reduces network-layer handoff latency and packet loss but reduces MN access speed and additional signaling. IAPP [Inter-Access Point Protocol] determines optimum path routing through auto-discovery. New Wi-Fi sites can be added and all the sites determine optimum path routing through auto-discovery creating a dynamically scalable network. Wi-Fi sites also determine alternate path routing. In the case of outage or interference, path redundancy and predictive path optimization make the system self-healing. As additional wireline transmission links are added (backhaul links via Local or metro-Ethernet, DSL [Digital Subscriber Line], cable modem, NMLI [Native Mode LAN Interconnection] or other services.), the network can continue to optimize itself.

MIP [Mobile IP] Roaming State is defined as the IP Addressing Registration state provided to a MN [Mobility Neighborhood] which provides constant connectivity to the MN [Mobile Node] during its connection (referred to as a MP [Mobility Pattern] - RF [Radio Frequency] connection) in the cell. An MN [Mobility Neighborhood] is defined as a set of geographically adjacent coverage areas referred to as IP Cells. An MN is identified CC [Current Cell] while the surrounding cells are referred to as NC [Neighboring Cells]. The set of AR [Access Routers] connecting a set of cells or AP [Access Points] is defined as an RN [Routing Neighborhood] depicted above. APs are connected to AR [Access Routers] and then to NR [Network Routers] which is depicted in the animated tutorial. Auto discovery of the MNV [Mobile Network Vector] - RNV [Router Neighborhood Vector] is based on CAT [Coverage Area Tuples]. CATs identifies coverage capabilities is a formulate such as CATcellx = Rx (cell radius) APtype (LongitudexLatitude) + other AR features. The tuple (extension) can be advertised to other Access Routers to provide proactive vertical handoffs (look ahead routing). On receipt of a router announcement, the MN [Mobile Node] checks its RNI [Router Network Index] address prefix against any existing IP roaming state. If there is no match within its roaming state cache memory, the MN, upon receiving IP access, provides the NEW AR with a unicast RNV message along with coverage area capabilities.

Upon receipt of an RNV message, NEW AR sends a unicast message to other AR in the MN, which can modify/delete their route lists. Upon receipt of RNV message, NEW AR sends a unicast message to other AR in the MN, which can modify/delete their route lists called an RNI [Routing Neighbor Index]. The converged mobility routing state within an AR of the routing neighborhood comprises the TMM-Tentative Mobility Matrix enabling mobility-next hop routing in that routing neighborhood both RNI and TMM are depicted in this tutorial. The converged (convergence is when a router that has reached agreement on its internal routing tables including next-hop router) mobility routing state within an AR. This routing neighborhood comprises the TMM [Tentative Mobility Matrix] enabling mobility - next hop routing in that routing neighborhood depicted here.

See in-depth tutorials on this topic and more at TECHtionary.com.