Multicast Fast Handover via Tunnel Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing access routers (ARs) experience significant delays during the handover of a Mobile Node (MN) from one AR to another, particularly when moving out of overlapping coverage areas, leading to potential loss of multicast data streams like IP television.
Innovation Solution
The system anticipates handover by acquiring and forwarding the MN's multicast state data from the previous AR (PAR) to the new AR (NAR), establishing a tunnel to buffer multicast data streams until the MN connects to the NAR, thereby reducing handover delays without specialized mobility signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the MN performs handover from one AR to another AR, then the MN can maintain wireless access coverage mobility, but significant time delay occurs during the handover process causing multicast data stream loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the previous AR (PAR) forward multicast state data to the new AR (NAR) before the MN actually connects to the NAR. The NAR pre-establishes multicast delivery trees and buffers packets in advance, so when the MN connects, the handover is seamless and no data is lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network component acts as a mediator between the PAR and NAR. This mediator forwards multicast state data, establishes tunnels, and coordinates the handover process, enabling smooth transition without requiring the MN to explicitly signal mobility events.
2Reliability
If the MN uses explicit protocols like FMIPv6 with tunneling to forward multicast packets, then multicast data stream continuity is improved, but the system complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by having the network component automatically detect handover conditions and initiate the data forwarding process without requiring explicit mobility signaling from the MN. The MN simply sends MLS reports, and the network autonomously manages the entire handover process including tunnel establishment and data forwarding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex mobility signaling and handover management functions from the MN and relocates them to the network component. This extraction reduces the complexity at the MN level while maintaining reliable multicast data stream continuity through automated network-coordinated forwarding.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a multicast listening state (MLS) report comprising a multicast state data from a mobile node (MN), sending the multicast state data to an access router (AR), establishing a tunnel with the AR, and forwarding at least one multicast data stream associated with the multicast state data to the AR via the tunnel. Also disclosed is an AR configured to implement a method comprising receiving a multicast state data for an MN, evaluating the multicast state data, indicating whether the multicast state data is supported by the AR, establishing a tunnel with a second AR, and receiving at least one multicast data stream associated with the multicast state data from the second AR via the tunnel.