Fast Handoff in Mobile Networks Using FMIP and mSCTP

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile networks experience significant delays and data loss during handoffs, particularly in fast radio environments, due to the overhead of existing mobility support protocols like Mobile IP, which disrupt seamless communication when a terminal moves between subnets.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a Fast Handoff system using Mobile Internet Protocol (FMIP) with Mobile Stream Control Transmission Protocol (mSCTP), which enables a Mobile Node to anticipate and prepare for subnet changes by generating and configuring new IP addresses proactively, minimizing data reception delays through an L3 trigger and dual interface support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If Mobile IP is used to support terminal mobility in the network layer, then terminal mobility is enabled, but protocol overhead increases and efficiency decreases due to required entities like home agent or foreign agent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal mobility supportVSAvoidprotocol overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the mobility support function from the network layer (Mobile IP) and relocates it to the transport layer (SCTP). This eliminates the need for complex network layer entities like home agents and foreign agents, reducing protocol overhead while maintaining mobility support capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of implementing mobility at the network layer as traditionally done with Mobile IP, the patent inverts the approach by implementing mobility support at the transport layer through SCTP. This inversion simplifies the overall system architecture and reduces the complexity introduced by network layer mobility entities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If traditional IP address allocation is used where a terminal gets an IP address only once, then network simplicity is maintained, but connection maintenance problems arise when the terminal moves to another location

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork simplicityVSAvoidconnection maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by allowing a terminal to pre-configure multiple IP addresses before actually moving. The terminal can prepare alternative IP addresses in advance, so when mobility occurs, the connection can be maintained without interruption by switching to a pre-prepared IP address, thus resolving the connection maintenance problem while keeping the network simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a terminal uses a single IP address for data transmission, then address management is simple, but data loss occurs during handoff when the terminal moves between subnets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddress management simplicityVSAvoiddata loss during handoff

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary configuration of multiple IP addresses by the terminal before handoff occurs. When the terminal needs to move between subnets, it can switch to a pre-configured IP address, ensuring continuous data transmission without loss. This preliminary preparation eliminates the data loss problem that would otherwise occur during handoff.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent provides beforehand cushioning by having the terminal prepare and maintain multiple IP addresses as backup options. This cushioning ensures that when handoff is needed, the terminal can immediately switch to an alternative IP address, preventing data loss and maintaining continuous communication without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Adaptability or versatility

If handoff is performed in conventional mobile networks, then terminal mobility is achieved, but significant delays and packet loss occur during the handoff process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal mobilityVSAvoidhandoff delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces handoff delay by applying preliminary action - the terminal pre-configures multiple IP addresses before actual handoff is needed. This preparation allows the terminal to switch IP addresses instantly when moving between subnets, eliminating the significant delays that would otherwise occur during the handoff process while maintaining full mobility functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7693109B2System and method for performing fast handoff in mobile network

Publication Date: 2010.04.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A mobile network is disclosed in which there exists a Mobile Node (MN), the MN is managed by a first Access Router (AR), and there exists a second AR with a subnet different from the first AR. A method is provided for the MN performing a fast handoff from the first AR to the second AR, which includes receiving a Routing Advertisement (RA) message of the second AR from the first AR, generating an IP address to be used in the second AR using the RA message of the second AR if the MN recognizes that it should perform a handoff from the first AR to the second AR, performing a trigger for using the generated IP address if the movement to the second AR is completed, and transmitting/receiving a Correspondent Node (CN) and data using the IP address.