Mobile IP Handoff Based Link Layer Information

Network layer indications are not readily available upon a link change; therefore, general dependence on the network layer may introduce unnecessary delays due to network layer signaling for a simple link layer handoff. If information could be gathered at link layer to determine the need for network layer signaling, then both the delay and signaling load could be really improved over current standards. In this paper we introduce the use of link layer information which will be the main function of the Mobile IP handoff decision to reduce packet loss and handoff latency during the handoff.