Scalable Mobile Ethernet and fast vertical handover

The 3G cellular system has infiltrated into the market and the next generation wireless system called beyond 3G is discussed at ITU-R. The beyond 3G system integrates various wireless accesses, including 3G and wireless LANs, and provides an all IP wireless solution to services that take advantage of each wireless communication of the system. Current approach to integrate wireless systems localizes wireless dependent functions and integrates all IP network using IP technologies. We propose a scalable mobile Ethernet architecture for the all IP integrated network using MAC layer technologies, such as provider bridge, RPR, and IEEE 802, and the fast vertical handover introducing common radio resource and signaling managements. We discuss network segmentation with mobility management and multicast management for the scalability of the mobile Ethernet by reducing network traffic. We evaluate the network from the viewpoint of scalability. In the evaluation, we understand that the design of the gateway switch of a segment forwarding MAC frames as an anchor point becomes effective in cases where the gateway switch of each segment cannot hold entries for all mobile terminals. We also evaluate the vertical handover as compared to the mobile IPv6 fast handover, and we understand that the fast vertical handover consumes less network resources and is flexible in having an anchor point for handover.