A Cost Analysis Framework for NEMO Prefix Delegation-Based Schemes

Network Mobility (NEMO) efficiently manages the mobility of multiple nodes that moves together as a mobile network. A major limitation of the basic protocol in NEMO is the inefficient route between end hosts. A number of prefix delegation-based schemes have been proposed in the literature to solve the route optimization problem in NEMO. Approaches used by the schemes trade off delivery of packets through the partially optimized route with signaling and other processing overheads. Cost of delivering packets through the partially optimized route along with signaling and processing cost need to be measured to find out the gain from tradeoff. However, cost analysis performed so far on NEMO protocols consider only the cost of signaling. In this paper, we have developed analytical framework to measure the costs of the basic protocol for NEMO, and four representative prefix delegation-based schemes. Our results show that cost of packet delivery through the partially optimized route dominates over other costs. Therefore, optimizing the route completely is preferable to reduction of signaling as far as cost of network mobility is concerned. Our cost analysis framework will help in decision making to select the best route optimization scheme depending on the load imposed by the scheme on the infrastructure.