Comparative Analysis of Different Mobility Protocols for VHO based on MIH Standards

Mobile user service continuity across heterogeneous wireless access network is a challenging task for designing future generation wireless networks. Existing communication platforms may efficiently utilize heterogeneous architecture rather homogeneous solution for both non-real-time and real-time applications. Such seamless service continuity is obtained by proper vertical handover algorithms and mobility protocols across various layers to satisfy the user needs. Therefore, efficient standards are necessary for maintaining service quality in heterogeneous networks. One such standard is IEEE 802. 21 MIH which provides media-independent framework and associated services to enable seamless handover between heterogeneous networks. In this paper different mobility management protocols such as PMIPv6, MIPv6, HMIPv6 and FMIPv6 are analyzed, implemented and compared for integrated WLAN / WiMAX networks in terms handover latency and throughput.