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Mobile IP Working Group MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team INTERNET-DRAFT Karim El Malki (Editor) Expires:AugustNovember 2001 Pat R. Calhoun Tom Hiller James Kempf Peter J. McCann Ajoy Singh Hesham Soliman Sebastian ThalananyFebruary 23,May 2001 Lowlatency HandoffsLatency Handoff in Mobile IPv4<draft-ietf-mobileip-lowlatency-handoffs-v4-00.txt><draft-ietf-mobileip-lowlatency-handoffs-v4-01.txt> Status of this memo This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with all provisions of Section 10 ofRFC2026.RFC 2026. Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups. Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material or cite them other than as "work in progress". The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at http://www.ietf.org/ietf/lid-abstracts.txt The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html This document isan individual submission to the IETF. Comments should be directed toa product of theauthors. AbstractMobile IP(RFC2002)WG. Abstract Mobile IPv4 describes how a Mobile Node(MN)can performIP- layerIP-layer handoffs between subnets served by different ForeignAgent (FA) subnets.Agents. In certain cases, the latency involved in these handoffs can be above the threshold required for the support of delay-sensitive or real-time services. The aim of this document is to present two methods to achieve low- latency Mobile IPhandoffs (movement between FA subnets). Thesehandoffs. In addition, a combination of these two methods is described. The described techniques allow greater support MIPv4 handoffs design team [Page 1] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001greater supportfor real-time services on a Mobile IPv4 network by minimising the period ofservice disruptiontime when a Mobile Node is unable to send or receive IP packets due to the delay in the Mobile IP Registration process. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Introduction....................................................3Introduction.....................................................3 1.1 Terminology .................................................3 1.2 The Techniques ..............................................5 1.3 L2 triggers .................................................6 1.4 Requirementslanguage........................................4language .......................................8 2.Requirements....................................................4Requirements.....................................................9 3.Network Assisted, Mobile and Network Controlled (NAMONC)The PRE-REGISTRATION HandoffMethod..........................................................4Method..............................9 3.1Initiating NAMONC Handoffs through the "previous" FA.........9 I.Operation .................................................10 3.2 Network-Initiated Handoff .................................11 3.3 Mobile-Initiated Handoff ..................................13 3.4 Obtaining and Proxying nFA Advertisements .................15 3.4.1 Inter-FASolicitation .....................................10 II.Solicitation.................................15 3.4.2 Tunneled nFA Advertisements...........................15 3.4.3 Piggy-backing Advertisements on L2messaging.............10 3.2messaging.........16 3.5 Caching Router Advertisements .............................16 3.6 Movement Detection and MNConsiderations.....................10 3.3 Regional Deregistration for NAMONC Handoffs..................13 3.4 Smooth Handoffs between Hierarchies (GFAs)...................13 3.5Considerations ..................17 3.7 Simultaneous Bindings .....................................17 3.8 L2 Address Considerationsfor NAMONC Handoffs................14 3.6 Advantages and.................................18 3.9 Applicability ofNAMONCPRE-REGISTRATION HandoffMethod........15.................19 4.Network Initiated, Mobile Terminated (NIMOT)The POST-REGISTRATION HandoffMethod....15Method............................20 4.1Registration Latency........................................16Operation .................................................20 4.2Movement Detection..........................................17Role of BETs ..............................................23 4.3Ping-Pong effect............................................19 4.4 Reverse Tunneling Support...................................20 4.5 Security Relationships......................................20 4.6 Operation...................................................21 4.6.1 Foreign Agent Considerations...........................21 4.6.2 GatewayForeign AgentConsiderations...................24 4.7Considerations ..............................24 4.4 Handoff RequestMessage.....................................24 4.8Message ...................................26 4.5 Handoff ReplyMessage.......................................26 4.9 Error Values................................................27 4.10 Security Considerations.....................................27 4.11 Advantages andMessage .....................................27 4.6 Applicability ofNIMOTPOST-REGISTRATION HandoffMethod....... 28Method..........29 5. Combined Handoff Method.........................................30 6. Reverse Tunneling Support.......................................30 7. Generalized Link Layer AddressExtension.......................29 5.1Extension........................31 7.1 IMSI Link Layer AddressExtension...........................29 5.2Extension .........................31 7.2 Ethernet Link Layer AddressExtension.......................30 5.3Extension .....................32 7.3 IEEE 64-Bit Global Identifier (EUI-64) AddressExtension....31 6. IANA Considerations.............................................31 7. References......................................................32Extension ..33 7.4 Solicited IP Address Extension ............................33 7.5 Solicited Access Point Identifier Extension ...............34 8. IANA Considerations.............................................34 9. Security Considerations.........................................35 9.1 AAA Considerations for Security ...........................36 10. References.....................................................37 11. Authors'Addresses..............................................33Addresses.............................................38 12. Full Copyright Statement.......................................40 Appendix A - Gateway ForeignAgents................................36Agents................................41 Appendix B -Bicasting Applicability Statement.....................37 MIPv4Low Latency HandoffsDesign Teamfor Multiply-Interfaced MNs......44 El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 2] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001 1. Introduction Mobile IPv4(RFC2002)[1] describes how a Mobile Node (MN) can perform IP-layerhandoffshandoff between subnets served by different ForeignAgent (FA) subnets.Agents (FAs). In certain cases, the latency involved inthese handoffshandoff can be above the threshold required for the support of delay-sensitive or real-time services. The aim of this document is to present two methods to achieve low-latency Mobile IPhandoffs (movementhandoff during movement betweenFA subnets). TheseFAs. The presented techniques allow greater support for real-time services on a Mobile IPv4 network by minimising the period ofservice disruptiontime when a MN is unable to send or receive IP packets due to the delay in the Mobile IP Registration process.The two methods presented inIn the rest of thisdraft to achieve low-latency IP- layer handoffs are: - Network Assisted, Mobile and Network Controlled (NAMONC) Handoffs - Network Initiated, Mobile Terminated (NIMOT) Handoffs The Network Assisted, Mobile and Network Controlled (NAMONC) Handoff method allowssection, terminology used throughout theMN to be involved in an anticipated IP-layer handoff procedure. The MNdocument istherefore assisted bypresented, thenetwork in performing an anticipated L3handoffbefore it completes the L2 handoff. Information from L2 (L2 triggers) may be used both in the MNtechniques are briefly described, andin the FA. This method proposesthe use ofsimultaneous bindings in order to send multiple copies of the traffic to potential Mobile Node movement locations before MN movement occurs. Therefore, the Mobile-Assisted Handoff method coupled tolink layer2 mobility may help in achieving seamless (low latency + low loss) handoffs between Foreign Agents. However L2 connectivity may cause packet losses.information is outlined. Inaddition to handlingSection 2, a brief description of requirements is presented. Section 3 describes thesimple casedetails ofa MN, FA, and Home Agent,theNAMONC Handoff method also allowsPRE-REGISTRATION handoff technique, while Section 4 describes theusedetails ofRegional Registrations [2]. The Mobile IPv4 concept (Advertisement-Registration) is supported and NAMONC handoffs rely on Mobile IP security. No new messages are proposed. In cases wheretheMN is ablePOST-REGISTRATION handoff technique. In Section 5, ways toactivate multiple interfacesuse both handoff techniques together are presented. Section 6 discusses reverse tunneling support, while Section 7 describes the protocol extensions required by the handoff techniques. Sections 8 andthus be data-connected9 discuss IANA and security considerations. Two appendicies discuss additional material related tomultiple access points simultaneously,theMN may not need to support anticipatedhandoff techniques. Appendix A describes how Regional Registration [2] and simultaneous bindingsand may achieve seamless handoffs simply by establishing connectivity through registrationscan be used together with low latency handoff. Appendix B discusses low latency handoff when a MN has multiple wireless L2 interfaces, in which case thenew FA before disconnecting from the current interface. The Network Initiated, Mobile Terminated (NIMOT) handoffs method proposes extensions to the Mobile IP protocol to allowtechniques in this document may not be necessary. 1.1 Terminology This section presents a few terms used throughout the document. oFA - old Foreign Agent, the FAandinvolved in handling a MN's care of address prior to an L3 handoff. nFA - new Foreign Agent, the FA anticipated toutilize information from layer 2 (the L2 "trigger") to set upbe handling akindMN's care of address after completion of an L3 handoff. L2 handoff - Movement of"pre-registration" prior to receivingaformal Registration RequestMN's point of Layer 2 (L2) connection from one wireless access point to another. L3 handoff - Movement of theMobile Node. This enablesFA handling avery rapid establishmentMN's care ofserviceaddress atthe new point of attachment soLayer 3 (L3) from oFA to nFA. L2 trigger - Information from L2 thatthe effectinforms L3 ofthe handoff on real-time applications is minimized, although the MN must eventually perform a formal Mobile IP registration.particular events before and after L2 handoff. Theproposed extensions make a few minimal assumptions about supportdescriptions of L2 triggers in this document are not specific to any particular L2, but rather represent generalizations of L2 information available fromthe link layer. Although the assumptions address the kindsa wide variety oflink layer support available in existing radio MIPv4 Handoffs Design TeamL2 protocols. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 3] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001link layers,source trigger - An L2 trigger that occurs at oFA, informing theassumptions are not based on any specific radio link protocol. Security is handled by standard Mobile IP mechanisms, and both intra-domain and inter-domain handoff are supported. The technique can be used for inter-technologyoFA that L2 handoffbut it requires the active involvement byis about to occur. target trigger - An L2 trigger that occurs at nFA, informing themobilenFA that an MN is about toswitch from one network interfacebe handed off toanother. This technique covers anFA. low latency handoffscenario not addressed by RFC 2002, namely a pro-active, network-assisted handoff. Each method may be better suited for certain access network characteristics and- L3 handoff in which thefeatures and advantagesperiod ofeach method will be described later. NAMONC and NIMOT handoffs may be implemented independently. Ittime during which the MN isupunable to receive packets is minimized. low loss handoff - L3 handoff in which theimplementor, based onnumber of packets dropped or delayed is minimized. Low loss handoff is often called smooth handoff. seamless handoff - L3 handoff that is both low latency and low loss. bicasting - The splitting of a stream of packets destined for a MN via its current FA (the oFA) into two or more streams, and thelink-layer characteristicssimultaneous transmission of thespecific implementationstreams to oFA andthe featuresone or more nFA. Bicasting is a handoff smoothing technique used to reduce packet loss during handover. bi-directional edge tunnel (BET) - A particular kind ofeach method suppliedbicasting inthis document to decide uponwhichis most appropriate for that case. 1.1 Requirements language In this document,thekey words "MAY", "MUST, "MUST NOT", "optional", "recommended", "SHOULD", and "SHOULD NOT", areoFA bicasts packets destined for a MN tobe interpreted as described in [3]. 2. Requirementsboth nFA and the L2 on which the MN previously resided. Thefollowing requirements are applicablepackets tolow-latency handoffs andnFA aresupportedtunneled. The tunnel is bi- directional because nFA tunnels packets from MN while it is using its old care of address back to oFA, so the packets appear on a topologically correct network. If the packets were not tunneled back to the oFA, they might be dropped byboth methods: - Support delay-sensitive (real-time) servicesegress filtering. Bi-directional edge tunnels are only needed indomainPOST-REGISTRATION handoff. ping-ponging -Support back-and-forthRapid back and forth movementof MNbetweenFAs (ping-pong) - No dependency on atwo wireless access points due to failure of L2technology - Support Interhandoff. Ping- ponging can occur if radio conditions for both the old andIntra-access technology handoffs - Limit wireless bandwidth usage 3. Network Assisted, Mobilenew access points are about equivalent andNetwork Controlled (NAMONC) Handoff Method This method is intended to supportless than optimal for establishing a good, lowlatency IP-layer handoffs for:error L2 connection. network-initiated handoff -Multi-access mobility (different access technologies;L3 handoff in which oFA or nFA initiates the handoff. mobile-initiated handoff - L3 handoff in which the MNand network controlled)initiates the handoff. IP address identifier -Single-access mobility (same access technology;An IP address of a MNand network controlled) This method considers bothor FA, or an L2 identifier that allows an FA to deduce thenormal MobileIPmodel [1] andaddress of a MN or FA. If theRegional (hierarchical) MobileIPmodel [2]. These are shown in Figure 1 whereaddress identifier is an L2 identifier, it may be specific to theAccess Points (APs) or Radio Networks (RNs) are MIPv4 Handoffs Design TeamL2 technology. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 4] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001used to provide1.2 The Techniques Mobile IP was originally designed without any assumptions about the underlying link layers over which it would operate so that it could have the widest possible applicability. This approach has the advantage of facilitating aMN with wireless or wiredclean separation between L2access. Both interandintra-domain (AAA-assisted) mobility is considered. The additional features for this method are: - Support MN-control ofL3handoff (as RFC2002) MN controls its registrations and there are no proxy registrations on MN's behalf. - Support network(FA)-controlofL3the protocol stack, but it has negative consequences for handoff(as RFC2002) FA controls advertisements (which cause MN handoff)latency. The strict separation between L2 andcan accept/reject registrations. - No new messagesL3 results in the following built-in sources of delay: -Maintain RFC2002 concept thus allowingThe MNto determine which FA it will register with(advertisement->movement detection->registration) - Rely on existing Mobile IP security model MN-FA-HA (e.g. using AAA) but make no assumption on L2 security - No L3 knowledge of exactmay only communicate with a directly connected FA. This implies that a MN may only begin the registration process after an L2 handofftiming (but this method can make use of handoff indications or triggers from L2 on either the network or terminal side depending on the initiator) Figure 1 illustratesto nFA has completed. - The registration process takes some non-zero time to complete as thenormal and hierarchical MIPv4 models. InRegistration Requests propagate through thesimplest multi-access or single-access case wherenetwork. During this period of time the MN is not able toactivate more than one interface (corresponding to differentsend orthe same access technologies) and thusreceive IP packets. This document presents techniques for reducing these built-in delay components of Mobile IP. The techniques can bedata-connected to multiple access points simultaneously it is possibledivided into two general categories, depending on which of the above problems they are attempting toachieve low-latency handoffs in a relatively simple manner. Assume thataddress: - Allow the MNis connectedtoRN2 and is registeredcommunicate withFA2 through which it is receiving traffic. The MN may enterthecoverage area of RN1 and FA1 and decide that it prefers connectivitynFA while still connected tothis networkthe oFA. - Provide forreasons beyonddata delivery to thescope of this document (e.g. user preferences, cost, QoS available etc.).MN at the nFA even before the formal registration process has completed. The first category of techniques allows the MNwould then activateto "pre-build" its registration state on theinterfacenFA prior toRN1 as well as continue communicating through RN2.an underlying L2 handoff. TheMN may solicit advertisements from FA1second category of techniques allow for service tospeed upcontinue uninterrupted while the handoffprocess. Once it is registered with FA1 andissuccessfully receiving and transmitting throughbeing processed by thenew network it may then tear down the interfacenetwork. Three methods are presented in this draft toRN2. Ifachieve low-latency L3 handoff, one for each category described above and one as a combination of theMN has enough time to complete this procedure without incurring degraded service or disconnection then it would providetwo: - PRE-REGISTRATION handoff method, - POST-REGISTRATION handoff method, - combined handoff method. The PRE-REGISTRATION handoff method allows the MNwith a seamless multi-access handoff. In ordertosupport the possible failure of the connectivity withbe involved in an anticipated IP-layer handoff. The MN is assisted by thenewnetwork(RN1/FA1)in performing an L3 handoff before it completes theshort period followingL2 handoff. The L3 handoff can be either network-initiated or mobile-initated. Accordingly, L2 triggers are used both in the MNMAY use the "S" bit in its Mobile IP Registration Request to maintain both its existing (HA or GFA) binding with FA2anda new binding with FA1 (i.e. simultaneous bindings). The use of simultaneous bindings is not necessaryinmost ofthecases belongingFA tothis scenario. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamtrigger particular L3 handoff events. The PRE-REGISTRATION method El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 5] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001_________ _________ | | | | | HA |--------| (GFA) |________ |_________| |_________| \ / | \ \ \ ... ... ... \ \ ______/_ _\______ | | | | | | | FA2 | | FA1 | | |________| |________| | ____|___ ____|___ ____|___ | | | | | | | AP/RN 2| | AP/RN 1| | AP/RN 3| |________| |________| |________| | ____|___ | | CN | MN | |________| Figure 1 - Normal(HA only) and Hierarchical(HAcoupled to L2 mobility helps to achieve seamless handoffs between FAs. The basic Mobile IPv4 concept involving advertisement followed by registration is supported andGFA) MIPv4 model Intheremaining part ofPRE-REGISTRATION handoff method relies on Mobile IP security. No new messages are proposed, except for an extension to thedescription of the NAMONC Handoffs method,Agent Solicitation message in thescenarios for single and multi-access handoffs will be considered. In these scenariosmobile- initiated case. The POST-REGISTRATION handoff method proposes extensions to theMN is unableMobile IP protocol toactivateallow the oFA andcommunicate over more than one interface or connectionnFA to utilize L2 triggers to set up a registration on thenetwork. This may be duenFA prior tolimitations imposed byreceiving a formal Registration Request from theaccess technology or configurationMobile Node. This enables a very rapid establishment of service at themobile node. In these cases it is necessarynew point of attachment toanticipate the IP-layer handoff beforeminimize theMN's movement actually happens in order to achieveimpact on real-time applications. The MN must eventually perform aseamless mobility effect as close as possible to that described previously. In Figure 1, using normalformal Mobile IP(no GFA) the MN MAY perform registrationsregistration after L2 communication with theHA using simultaneous bindings. Thisnew FA isdescribed in [1]established. Security is handled by standard Mobile IP mechanisms, and both intra-domain and inter-domain handoff are supported. The technique can be used for inter-technology handoff but it requires themethod to anticipate MN movementactive involvement byinteracting withthewireless L2 is described later in this draft. Simultaneous bindings are usedmobile todecoupleswitch from one network interface to another. The combined method involves running a PRE-REGISTRATION and a POST- REGISTRATION handoff in parallel. If theIP-layerPRE-REGISTRATION handofffromcan be completed before the L2 handoffby having data reachingcompletes, themultiple possible MN locations beforecombined method resolves to a PRE-REGISTRATION handoff. However, if theMN moves there sincePRE- REGISTRATION handoff does not complete within an access technology dependent time period, thedetails ofoFA starts forwarding traffic destined to theL2 handoff timing are unknownMN toL3. "Bicasting" or simultaneous bindings are alsothe nFA as specified in the POST-REGISTRATION handoff method. This provides for a useful backup mechanism when completion of a PRE-REGISTRATION handoff cannot always be guaranteed before the L2 handoff completion. It should be noted that the methods described in this document may be applied tosupport "ping-pong" or fast back-and- forth MN movement between FAs due to fast mobilityMNs having a single interface (e.g. Wireless LAN interface) or multiple interfaces (e.g. two WLAN interfaces, one WLAN and one cellular interface). However, the case of multiply-interfaced MNs needs special consideration, since the handofffailures.methods described in this document may not be required in all cases (see Appendix B). 1.3 L2 triggers Analternative methodL2 trigger is used toperform improved handoffs, namely Smooth Handoffs,signal some event during the process of L2 handoff. One possible event isdescribedearly notice of an upcoming change in[4]. The method for NAMONC Handoffs addressestheneedL2 point of attachment of the mobile node tosupport services having strict delay bounds (i.e. real-time) whichthe access network. Another possible event is the completion of relocation of the mobile node's L2 point of attachment to a new L2 access point. This information comes from L2 programmatically or is derived from L2 messages. Although the protocols outlined incertain cases maythis document make use of specific L2 information, Mobile IP should behard to support if MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamkept independent of any specific L2. L2 triggers are an abstraction mechanism for a link technology specific trigger. Therefore, an L2 trigger that is made El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 6] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001traffic hasavailable tobe forwarded between FAs using Smooth Handoffs. This is especially true ifthetwo FAs are not directly connected. If thereMobile IPv4 stack isa common router or router network connecting the two FAsassumed to be generic andthe HA, forwarding traffic between FAs would cause twice the bandwidth usage on the common router/s and a considerable increasetechnology independent. The precise format of these triggers is not covered indelay. Also,this document, but the information required to be contained in thenon-realtime caseL2 triggers for low latency handoffs is specified. In order to properly abstract from the L2, itmay be possibleis assumed that one of thenew FA receives both buffered traffic fromthree entities - theprevious FA (smooth handoff) and traffic fromMN, oFA, or nFA - is made aware of theHA which could cause some delayedneed for an L2 handoff, andpossibly out-of-order packets tothat the nFA or MN can optionally also bedelivered tomade aware that an L2 handoff has completed. A specific L2 will often dictate when a trigger is received and which entity will receive it. Certain L2s provide advance triggers on the network-side, while others provide advance triggers on the MN.This could affectAlso, theperformanceparticular timing ofhigher level protocols (e.g. TCP). The same situation will not arise using NAMONC Handoffs. However, having multiple simultaneous bindings for MNs attheHA will causetrigger with respect to theHAactual L2 handoff may differ from technology tosend multiple copies of data packets towards mutliple FAs whichtechnology. For example, some wireless links maybeprovide such a trigger well in advance of thesame region or domain.actual handoff. Intermscontrast, other L2s may provide no or little information in anticipation ofbandwidth usage this would not be efficient unlesstheHAL2 handoff. An L2 trigger may be categorized according to whether it isclosereceived by the MN, oFA, or nFA. Table 1 gives such a categorization along with information expected to be contained in theFAstrigger. The methods presented inquestion, howeverthisis not always the case. Also, if the round- trip time between HA and FAs is not negligible this may slow down the MN's new Registration and therefore the Mobile IP handoff. The Hierarchical MIPv4 model addresses these problems. The Regional (Hierarchical) Mobile IPv4 scheme introduced in Regional Registrations [2] allows a Mobile Node to perform registrations locally with a Gateway Foreign Agent (GFA) in order to reduce the numberdocument operate based on different types ofsignalling messages to the home network. This achieves a reductionL2 triggers as shown in Table 1. Once thesignalling delay when a Mobile Node moves between Foreign Agents and therefore improvesL2 trigger is received, theperformance of such handoffs. This drafthandoff processes described in Sections 3 or 4 isapplicable to single-level (GFA only with no regional FAs) and multi-level Hierarchicalperformed. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 7] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4networks described in Regional Registrations [2]. Networks utilizing Regional Registrations with NAMONCHandoffsoffer advantages which are especially important for the support of real-time services. As mentioned previously, the GFA may well beMay 2001 +-------------+----------------------+------------------------------+ | L2 trigger | mobile | source | | | pretrigger | trigger | | | (L2-MPT) | (L2-ST) | +-------------+----------------------+------------------------------+ | Recipient | MN | oFA | +-------------+----------------------+--------------+---------------+ | Method | PRE | PRE | POST | | | mobile- | network- | source | | | initiated | initiated | trigger | +-------------+----------------------+--------------+---------------+ | When? | sufficiently before | sufficiently | sufficiently | | | thefirst-hop routerL2 handover | before L2 | before L2 | | | so that MN can | handover forthe MN. In the Regional (Hierarchical) Mobile IP case the NAMONC Handoff is achieved by "bicasting" traffic| handover for | | | solicit ProxyRtAdv | FA to send | oFA & nFA to | | | fromthe GFAoFA. | proxyRtAdv | exchange | | | | tothe previous FA and new FA while theMN. | HRq/HRy. | +-------------+----------------------+--------------+---------------+ | Parameters | nFA IP address | nFA IP address identifier | | | identifier | MNis moving between them. The anticipation ofIP address identifier | | | | | +-------------+----------------------+------------------------------+ +------------+------------------------+-------------+---------------+ | L2 trigger | target | mobile | network | | | trigger | handoff | handoff | | | (L2-TT) | complete | complete | | | | (L2-MHC) | (L2-NHC) | |------------+------------------------+-------------+---------------+ | Recipient | nFA | MN | nFA | |------------+------------+-----------+-------------+---------------+ | Method | PRE | POST | POST | POST | | | network | target | (optional) | (optional) | | | initiated | trigger | | | |------------+------------------------+-------------+---------------+ | When? | | when radio | when radio | | | same as | conditions | conditions | | | source trigger | are OK for | are OK for | | | | MIP register| MIP register | |------------+------------------------+-------------+---------------+ | Parameters | oFA IP address id | none | none | | | MN IP address id. | | | |------------+------------------------+-------------+---------------+ Table 1 - L2 Triggers 1.4 Requirements language In this document, theMN's movement is achievedkey words "MAY", "MUST, "MUST NOT", "optional", "recommended", "SHOULD", and "SHOULD NOT", are to be interpreted as described in [3]. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 8] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 2. Requirements The following requirements are applicable to low-latency handoff techniques and are supported bytight coupling with Layer 2 functionalitythe methods in this document: - provide low-latency and low loss handoff for real time services, - minimize theFA whicheffects at L3 of ping-ponging, - no dependence on a wireless L2 technology, - support inter- and intra-access technology handoffs, - limit wireless bandwidth usage. 3. The PRE-REGISTRATION Handoff Method The PRE-REGISTRATION handoff method isdependentbased on thetypeoriginal concept ofaccess technology used. Bicasting is achieved through simultaneous bindings, where the MN activates the "S" bitMobile IP handoff as specified inthe Registration Request (described[1], in[1]). In a hierarchical MIPv4 network, when a Regional Registration Request has the "S" bit set, the receiving regionalwhich: - an advertisement for an FAor GFA which hasis received by anexisting binding withMN, - the advertisement allows the MNwill addto perform movement detection, - therelevant new binding forMN registers with the FA. The PRE-REGISTRATION method allows both the MNbut will also maintain any other existing bindings it had forand FA to initiate handoff. In both cases, abiding by theMN. Whenbasic Mobile IP handoff concept allows the MNhas multiple active bindingsto choose withFAs, it MAY receive multiple copies of the same traffic directedwhich FA toit.register. The PRE- REGISTRATION method can make use ofsimultaneous bindingsL2 triggers on either the FA or MN side, depending on whether network-initiated or mobile-initiated handoff occurs. PRE-REGISTRATION does notnecessarily mean thatrequire any new messages to be defined in theMN is MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 7] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 receiving packets contemporarily fromnetwork-initiated case and specifies one new extension to ICMP Solicitations for the mobile-initiated case. The PRE-REGISTRATION method supports handoff for a single network interface or between multiplesources. This dependsnetwork interfaces on thecharacteristics of the access (L2) technology.MN. Thebicastingrest ofpacketsthis section discusses single interface handoff, Appendex C describes how multiple interface handoff isused to anticipate the MN's movement and speed up handoffs by sending a copy of the data tosupported. PRE- REGISTRATION also supports both theFAnormal Mobile IP model [1] in which the MN ismoving to. Untilreceiving packets from a Home Agent (HA) and the Regional Registration model [2] in which the MNactually completes the L2 handoffreceives packets from a Gateway Foreign Agent (GFA). Finally PRE-REGISTRATION supports movement tothea newFA, the data "copy" reaching this FA may be discarded. In this way the total handoff delay is limited to the time needed to perform the L2 handoff. Thus, NAMONC Handoffs coupled to the L2 access potentially result in loss-less IP-layer mobility. As describeddomain, in3.1, depending on the L2 characteristics, it is also possible for an MN to initiatewhich aNAMONC Handoff through the "previous" FA without having direct accessnew AAA transaction must occur to authenticate the"new" FA.MN with the new domain. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 9] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 3.1 Operation The overallNAMONCPRE-REGISTRATION Handoff mechanism is summarised in Figure21 below:+-----++---------+ |GFA |<---------+ +-----+HA (GFA)|<---------+ +---------+ | 4.RegRegReq.(Reg)RegReq | 5.RegRegReply(Reg)RegReply v +-----+(1a RtSol)1a. RtSol +-----+ | | -----------------> | nFA | | oFA |1b.RtAdv1b. RtAdv | | +-----+ <----------------- +-----+ ^ | ^ (2a.RtSol)ProxyRtSol) | |2b.2b / | | ProxyRtAdv / 3.RegRegReq(Reg)RegReq | | / | v --------------- +-----+ / | MN | +-----+ - - - - - -> Movement Figure21 -NAMONCPRE-REGISTRATION HandoffMessage exchangeProtocol The following steps provide more detail on the protocol: 1. Messages 1a and 1b(Router Solicitationcontain a solicitation of a Router Advertisement by oFA from nFA and a reply RouterAdvertisement) shouldAdvertisement from nFA. These messages SHOULD occur in advance of theNAMONCPRE-REGISTRATION Handoffand shouldin order to not delay thesending of message 2b.handoff. For thispurpose the old FA (oFA)to occur, oFA MAY solicit and cache advertisements from thenew FA (nFA),nFA, thus decoupling the timing of this exchange from the rest of theNAMONCPRE-REGISTRATION Handoff.MessageWhen the L3 handoff is initiated by a target L2 trigger at nFA, message 1b is sent unsolicited directly to MN rather than relayed by oFA. 2. The presence of message 2a indicates that the handoff is mobile- initated and its absence means that the handoff is network-initiated. In mobile-initiated handoff, message 2a occurs if there is an L2 trigger in the MN to solicit for arouter advertisement.Proxy Router Advertisement. When message 2a is received by the oFA, the oFA returns the Proxy Router Advertisement in message 2b. Innetwork-controlled wireless systemsnetwork-initiated handoff, the L2 triggerwill be in the networkoccurs at oFA andwill reachoFAwhich will transmitrelays theProxyRouter Advertisement(message 2b). This is simply nFA's advertisement relayed by oFA. Thein message 2b without the need for MNwill performto solicit. Note that it is also possible for nFA to advertise directly to the MN in the network- El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 10] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 initiated target-trigger case (section 3.2). In all cases message 2b is simply nFA's router advertisement. 3. The MN performs movement detection upon receipt of either a solicited or unsolicited Router Advertisement and, if appropriate,sendit sends aRegionalRegistration Request message [1] [2](message 3)in message 3 to nFA requesting a simultaneous binding. Message 3may beis routed through oFA since the MN is not directly connected to nFAat this point.prior to the L2 handoff. 4. Messages 3, 4 and 5are MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 8] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latencyconstitute a standard MobileIPv4 Handoffs February 2001 described inIP Registration [1] or Regional Registration [2]. TheRegionalRegistration Reply(message 5) needs toin message 5 MUST beforwardedcopied by nFA to theMN. UnlessMN both through oFA and directly on- link. This is necessary, unless thesystemL2/L3 interaction is engineered such that the MN may not detach from oFA until it has received theReply, the MN may atReply. Since thistime have disconnected. Thereforewill not always be the case, the ReplyshouldSHOULD becopiedtunneled by nFA tothe MN's old location (tunnelling the Regional Registration Reply to oFA)oFA andto the MN's new location.sent directly on-link. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate this tunneling, though it is not shown in Figure 1. Tunneling can take place either at L3 or L2. The MN'snewL2 address may be obtained using the extensions insection 5,Section 7, as described in 3.5.At this moment it may still not be known at L3 whether5. Because of the uncertainty as to when the L2 connection between the MNhas detachedandconnected to nFA. Even if it was known attheexact instant, in most wireless systems there would notnFA becomes fully established and can beenough timeused for L3 traffic, simultaneous bindings with the GFA or the HA are used toreact and forwardallow traffic for the MN to be sent to both theMN's new location byoFA and the nFA. Between the time when theMN has attached. For this reason, to maintain L3 connectivity, simultaneous binding are used. Therefore for a short time interval from the moment the RegionalRegistration Reply is sentby thefrom HA or GFA tonFA,nFA and when the MN's connection on L2 at the nFA is fully established, the HA or GFAwill start bicastingbicasts traffic for the MN to both oFA and nFA.Therefore theThe MNwill beis able to receive traffic independently of the exact L2 handoff timing. Also, should the L2 handoff procedurefail orfail, terminate abruptly, or ping-pong, the use of simultaneous bindings allows the MN to maintain L3 connectivity withoFA. The same stands forthecase in whichoFA, smoothing theMN performs "ping-pong" or fast back-and-forth movement between FAs, where simultaneous bindings allow continued L3 connectivity withouthandoff. PRE-REGISTRATION is not dependent on Regional Registration extensions [2]. However if theneed to continuously receive advertisements and send registration messages. This reducesHA is at a distance (in terms of delay) from thesignalling load overnFA, theair interface. Note that this method can be applied touse of a local GFA reduces thecase where multiple possible nFAs are identified by oFA. 3.1 Initiating NAMONC Handoffs throughtime required for the"previous" FA Some existing wireless L2 technologies and their implementations do not allow a MN to be data-connected to multiple wireless access points simultaneously. In orderhandoff procedure toperform a NAMONC Handoff it is necessarycomplete. Figures 2, 3, and 4 contain message timing diagrams forsome form of interworking between layers 2both the network-initiated and3 to determine whenmobile-initiated PRE-REGISTRATION handoff procedures. 3.2 Network-Initiated Handoff As described in Table 1, aL3PRE-REGISTRATION handoffshouldcan betriggeredinitated El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 11] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 at oFA by aL2 handoff. It should be noted that the method usedsource trigger or at nFA byan FA to determine whenaMN has initiatedtarget trigger. A source- triggered network-initiated handoff occurs when an L2handoff (L2 trigger) for which the FA should initate a NAMONC Handofftrigger isoutsidereceived at thescopeoFA informing it ofthis draft and may involve interaction with L2 messaging. If the FA determines from thea certain MN's upcoming movement from oFA to nFA. The L2 triggerthat movement between FAswillnot occur thencontain information such as theNAMONC Handoff should notMN's IP address identifier (i.e. MN's IP address or identifier which can beinitiated. When this is notresolved by thecase,oFA to theinteraction between L2MN's IP address) andL3 (on the network side and/or MN-side) should allowtheMobile NodenFA's IP address identifier. An identifier may be specific tocomplete a L2the wireless technology (e.g. Access Point ID). A target-triggered network- initiated handoff(resulting in movement between FAs) after having performedoccurs when an L2 trigger is received at theL3 NAMONC Handoff describednFA informing it of a certain MN's upcoming movement from oFA. This type of trigger is also shown inthis draft. That is, theTable 1. The L2handoff should be completed aftertrigger contains information such as the MN'sRegistration withIP address identifier and the"new" FA which producesoFA's IP address identifier. In asimultaneous binding atsource-triggered handoff, message 2b, theGFA/HA. This Registration may be transmitted more than onceProxy Router Advertisement, is sent by oFA toreducetheprobability that itMN. Messages 1a and 1b are exchanged by oFA and nFA before the L2 trigger islost duereceived. Message 2a is not used. In a target-triggered handoff, nFA tunnels an Agent Advertisement directly toerrors on the wireless link. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 9] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 A NAMONC Handoff in this case requiresthe MN toreceive "new" agent advertisements throughinitiate the"old" wireless access points, andL3 handoff. The inner Advertisement is unicast by nFA toperformMN, thus nFA treats the target-trigger as aregistration withRouter Solicitation. This Advertisement is tunneled to oFA which functions as a normal router, decapsulating the"new" FA throughAdvertisement and forwarding it to the"old" wireless access point. This procedure should be performed beforeMN. Figures 2 and 3 contain message timing diagrams describing thelayer-2PRE- REGISTRATION network-initiated handoffevent. Two ways of performing this follow. I. Inter-FA Solicitation This solution assumes that the FA with which the MN is currently registered is aware of the IP address of the "new" FA which the MN is moving to. The method by which the current FA is informed of this may depend on interaction with L2for source andis outside the scope of this draft. Once the current FA is aware of the address of the FA which the MN will move to, it will send the "new" FA an agent solicitation message. The "new" FA will reply to the current FA by sending it an agent advertisement with appropriate extensions. The current FA will then send the agent advertisement to the MN's address. As a consequence, the MN, being eager to perform new registrations, will send a registration request to the "new" FA through the "old" wireless access point served by the current FA. II. Piggy-backing Advertisements on L2 messaging Using Figure 1, consider a case where antarget triggers. MNinitiates anoFA nFA HA/GFA | |<~~~~~~ L2-Source | | | | Trigger | | |<--------------------| | | | ProxyRtAdv | | | | | | | |---------------------------------------->| | | HA Reg. or | | | | RegReg (routed | |------------------->| | via oFA if pre | | HA reg or RegReg | | L2handoff from AP/RN1Handoff) | | | | | |<-------------------| | | | Reg Reply | | | | | |<----------------------------------------| | |<--------------------|<------------------| | | | Reg Reply | | | |(sent toAP/RN2 (Note that it may not be theMNwhich takes decisions on L2 handoffs). It is assumed that when an L2 handoff is initiated, AP/RN1through| | oFA andAP/RN2 perform L2 messaging procedures to negotiate the L2 handoff. Since the MN is not attached to AP/RN2 yet, FA2 is unaware of the IP address of thedirectly) Figure 2 - PRE-REGISTRATION Handoff Message Timing Diagram (Network-Initiated, Source Trigger) El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 12] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 MNand cannot send an advertisement to it. Therefore it is necessary for theoFA nFA HA/GFA | | L2-Target~~~~~~~~>| | | | Trigger | | | | | | | |...................| | |<--------------------------------------- | | | (ProxyRtAdv) |...................| | | | Tunneled Agent | | | | Advertisement | | | | | | |---------------------------------------->| | | HA Reg. or | | | | RegReg (routed | |------------------->| | via oFA if pre | | HA reg or RegReg | | L2procedures (which must be commonHandoff) | | | | | |<-------------------| | | | Reg Reply | | | | | |<----------------------------------------| | |<--------------------|<------------------| | | | Reg Reply | | | |(sent toAP/RN1MN | | tunneled through oFA andAP/RN2) to interwork with Mobile IP. Oncedirectly on-link) Figure 3 - PRE-REGISTRATION Handoff Message Timing Diagram (Network-Initiated, Target Trigger) 3.3 Mobile-Initiated Handoff As shown in Table 1, aL2mobile-initiated handoffis initiated, such that AP/RN2 and AP/RN1 are in communication, it is possible for AP/RN2 to solicitoccurs when anadvertisement from FA2 and transfer it to AP/RN1. Once thisL2 trigger is receivedby the MN,at the MNcan perform a registration directedinforming it that it will shortly move toFA2 even thoughnFA. The L2 trigger contains information such as the nFA's IP address identifier (i.e. nFA's IP address or an identifier which can be resolved by MNhas no data-connectiontoAP/RN2 yet.the nFA's IP address). Theprecise definitionmessage timing diagram is shown in Figure 4. As a consequence ofsuchthe L2procedures is outsidetrigger, thescope of Mobile IP. 3.2 Movement Detection andMNConsiderations When there is a hierarchy of foreign agents between the GFA and the announcing foreign agent, the announcing foreign agent MAY include the corresponding addresses in order between its own address (first) MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 10] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 andissues message 1a, theGFA address (last)Proxy Router Solicitation. The message is either: - Unicast to nFA's IP address, in which case theMobility Agent Advertisement extension of its Agent Advertisements. If there are only two hierarchical levels,procedure is aforeignnormal agentannounces itself andsolicitation, apart from having aGFA in the Agent Advertisement; in the first and last address in the care-of address fieldTTL greater than 1. - Unicast to oFA, in which case theMobility Agent Advertisement extension. There must be at least one care-of addresssolicitation is for a Proxy Router Advertisement. This solicitation MUST have a TTL=1 as inthe Mobility Agent[1]. Proxy Router Advertisementextension. If there is only one care-of address itsolicitation is required because theaddressamount ofthe GFA,topological distance between nFA andthe MN is connected directly to it. When theMNreceives an Agent Advertisement withcould preclude aMobility Agent extension and the "I" bit set, as specifiedRouter Advertisement sent in[2], it should perform actions accordingreply prior tothe following movement detection mechanisms. Inan L2 handoff. This is different from [1], where aHierarchicalTTL of 1 is mandated. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 13] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency MobileIP network such as the one described in this draft, the MN MUST be: - "Eager" to perform new bindings - "Lazy" in releasing existing bindings The above means that theIPv4 Handoffs May 2001 MNMUST perform Regional Registrations with any "new" FA from which it receives an advertisement (Eager) as long as there are no locally-defined policies in theoFA nFA HA/GFA |<~~~~~ L2-Trigger | | | | | | | |-------------------->| | | | ProxyRtSol | | | | | | | |<--------------------| | | | ProxyRtAdv | | | | | | | |---------------------------------------->| | | HA Reg. or | | | | RegReg (routed | |------------------->| | via oFA if pre | | HA reg or RegReg | | L2 Handoff) | | | | | |<-------------------| | | | Reg Reply | |<----------------------------------------| | |<--------------------|<------------------| | | | Reg Reply | | | |(sent to MNwhich discourage the use of this FA (e.g. cost of service).through| | oFA and directly) Figure 4 - PRE-REGISTRATION Handoff Message Timing Diagram (Mobile-Initiated) Themethod by which the MN determines whether the FA is a "new" FAProxy Router Advertisement solicitation isdescribed in [1] and may make use ofanFA-NAIagent solicitation with a special extension.HoweverThe solicitation MUST have an extension containing an IP address idenfifier because the MNMUST NOT release existing bindings until it no longer receivesis soliciting a specific FA's advertisement from therelativeoFA. This specific FAandis thelifetime of its existing binding expires (Lazy). It shouldone which will benoted thatits nFA. The IP address identifier contains theMN may add a Hierarchical FA extension to Registration Requests in order to identifyIP address of theexact FA path tonFA or an identifier that can befollowedused by theRegistration Request. This extension mustoFA to resolve to nFA's IP address. If the identifier is not an IP address, it may beremoved by regional FAs. Ifspecific to theMN has at least one existing binding withunderlying wireless technology, for example, an Access Point or Base Station ID. The extension is aFA, additional simultaneous regional registrations will be performed requesting a short lifetime. This is donesubtype of the Generalised Link-Layer Address extension described inorderSection 7. Two subtypes have been defined tolimit the lifetime of bindings whichcontain theMN only needs temporarilynFA's IP address andtherefore limit bandwidth usage. This isan access point identifier They are called thecase whenSolicited Agent IP Address Extension and theMN is moving between FAsAccess Point Identifier Extension, anduses NAMONC Handoffs to achieve loss-less IP mobility. The lifetimeare described in Sections 7.4 and 7.5. Only one ofadditional "auxiliary" bindings needed for NAMONC Handoffs is thus limited. This may alsothe two should beuseful to support eventualpresent in the MN's"ping-pong" movement between FAs which would otherwise require continuous registrations and thus handoff delays. The remaining issue is the choicesolicitation. As a result of theappropriate HA address inMN solicitation message, theRegional Registration Request whenoFA sends message 2b, theMN has at least an existing active regional binding. Two options follow: 1) Mobility Agent extension advertises FA and GFA address onlyProxy Router Advertisement, to the MN. The Proxy Router Advertisement contains the agent advertisement for the requested nFA. Inthis case it is assumed that there is alwaysorder to expedite the handoff, the actual nFA advertisement SHOULD be cached by the oFA following asingle path from MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamprevious exchange with nFA, shown in messages 1a and 1b, and specified in Section 3.5. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page11]14] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001the MN to the GFA. The MN will always perform Regional Registrations using the GFA address as HA address3.4 Obtaining and Proxying nFA Advertisements If L2 triggers are involved in initiating PRE-REGISTRATION handoff, theadvertising FA as care-of address. As the Regional Registration Request is relayed towards the GFA, each FA receiving it will check whether it has an existing binding withtrigger timing SHOULD be arranged such that a full L3 PRE- REGISTRATION handoff can complete before L2 handoff initiates. That is, theMN and whetherL2 handoff should be initiated after theRegionalMN's Registrationhaswith the"S" bit set to request for simultaneous bindings. If this is truenFA completes andthe Regional Registration is validated by the GFA, these FAs will activate theproduces a simultaneous bindingupon receivingat the(successful) RegionalGFA/HA. The RegistrationReply fromMAY be transmitted more than once to reduce theGFA. Thereforeprobability that it isnot necessary to advertiselost due to errors on theMN all of the FA addresses in the hierarchical branch, thus reducing bandwidth usage over wireless. 2) Mobility Agent Advertisement extension advertises complete order of FAswireless link. A PRE-REGISTRATION handoff inthe branch In specific cases where multiple regional FA levels and multiple paths fromthis case requires the MN to receive agent advertisements from theGFA are present and are advertised, it may be necessary fornFA through theMNold wireless access point, and toidentifyperform a registration with the"common route" FA usingnFA through thecomplete listold wireless access point. Three ways ofFAsperforming this are discussed in thehierarchical branch. It is assumedfollowing subsections. 3.4.1 Inter-FA Solicitation Inter-FA solicitation assumes that oFA has access to theGFA advertises only one care-ofIP addresson all its interfaces towardsof theMN.nFA. The IP address of nFA is obtained either by means of an L2 trigger at oFA in the network-initiated case (see Section 3.2) or by means of the extension to the Proxy Router Solicitation from the MNmust cachein theMobility Agent Advertisement extensions for its active bindings. When it receives an advertisement from a "new" FA whichmobile-initiated case (see Section 3.3). Conceptually, once the oFA has access to the address of the nFA for adifferent Mobility Agent Adv. extension,specific MN, itwill be eager to performMUST send anew binding.unicast agent solicitation to nFA. TheMN compares the IP addresses innFA replies to thenew MobilityoFA by unicasting an AgentAdv. extensionAdvertisement with appropriate extensions. This method removes theones it has cachedTTL limitation of [1] forits active binding(s). If there is anMobile IPaddressmessages (i.e. TTL=1). The TTL limitation cannot be applied since oFA and nFA may be more than one hop away and is unnecessary for a unicast message incommonany case. Security betweenthese extensions, named "common route" FA or GFA, the MN will use that IP address as HA addressoFA anddestination address of its Regional Registration Request in which the "S" bit willnFA should beset. The care-of addressin place to ensure that agent solicitations and advertisements are protected and to enable nFA to determine that oFA isthe advertising FA's address. The MN may add a Hierarchical FA extensionauthorised tothe Regional Registration Request,solicit agent advertisements. As a practical matter, oFA SHOULD pre-solicit and cache advertisements from known FAs topologically near it, in order toidentify the regional FA pathprevent having tobe followed byperform theRequest upabove solicitation during an actual handoff procedure (see Section 3.5). 3.4.2 Tunneled nFA Advertisements Tunneling nFA advertisments assumes that nFA is aware of thehierarchy. A Regional FA receiving a Regional Registration Request with it's own address as HAIP addressmay return a Regional Registration Reply tofor oFA and the MN.If there is noThese IP addresses are obtained either by means of the IP address identifiers incommon between the extensions, then the MN must have moved into a new hierarchy and the GFA advertisedan L2 trigger at nFA in thenew extension must be differentnetwork-initiated case (see Section 3.2) or by means of the Proxy Router Solicitation from theoneMN in thepreviously cached extension(s). When themobile-initiated case (see Section 3.3). A solicitation from MNmoves between administrative domains (i.e. changes GFA) thendirectly to nFA must reach nFA and identify theMN should useoFA, so thenew GFA'ssolicitation must include an extension containing an IP addressas care- ofidentifier. This can be either oFA's IP addressin its new Registration Request to the HA and may add the Hierarchical FA extension as described previously. If the MN has at least one existing active binding when it moves to the new GFA, itor an Access Point identifier which mayperform a smooth handoff as explained in section 3.4. The MN is able to perform this optionbe specific toimplement NAMONC Handoffs only if its binding lifetime withtheGFA or HA does not expire MIPv4 Handoffs Design TeamEl Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page12]15] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001duringunderlying wireless technology. As a result of theperiod needed bytunneled solicitation, theMN to complete its handoff. Intermediate regional FAs are ablenFA sends a Router Advertisement tunneled toaccepttheMN's regional registration (simultaneous binding)MN through oFA. This message is effectively message 2b, coming from nFA instead and onlyifrouted through oFA. However in [1] theintermediate regional FA hasMN cannot solicit anexisting active binding forAdvertisement from the nFA directly (Mobile-Initiated Handoff) since it is not on the same link as the MN.The resulting simultaneous binding may therefore have a maximum possible lifetime equal toThis restriction applies if thelifetime remaining in its previously existing active binding. Once the registration lifetime with the GFA or HA is about to expire, the MNTTL mustperform a new Mobile IP registration with the HA. 3.3 Regional Deregistration for NAMONC Handoffs Regional deregistration is described in [2]. In this draft webe 1 on Router Solicitations. The same would applythe deregistration proceduretoNAMONC Handoffs. When the MN performs a regional registration with a "new" regional FA, then a regional deregistration must be performed withRouter Advertisements from theMN's old location,nFA, whichmay include allalso affects theFAs in its old regional branch. ThisNetwork-Initiated Handoff case. Therefore tunneling advertisements isnecessary to avoid incorrect routing of packets byonly applicable where the"previous" FA(s) inTTL limitation of [1] can be relaxed. This should be theold regional branch duringcase for unicast messages. 3.4.3 Piggy-backing Advertisements on L2 messaging Piggy-backing advertisements on L2 messaging involves utilizing theintervalL2 messaging involved inwhichL2 handoff to transmit theMN has moved butRouter Advertisement from the"previous" FA(s)'s regional binding lifetime fornFA to the MNhas not yet expired. The regional deregistration is performed by a regional FA uponor oFA. When the firsttimeL2 handoff messages are exchanged, itreceives a valid Regional Registration Request, without the "S" bit set, frommay be possible to transmit aMN which had previously setRouter Advertisement piggybacked onto L2 messages. Alternatively, the"S" bit in its regional registration(s). This regional FAL2 at oFA mayrespond with a Registration replycache nFA's advertisements andmay perform the Regional deregistration by sending a Binding Update with zero lifetimenot need to receive Router Advertisements upon every L2 handoff initiation. Whether this technique is possible depends on the"next" regional FA inparticulars of theMN's old regional branch, settingL2 technology and is outside theBinding Update's care-of address to the the previous care-of address it had registered for the MN (i.e. the "previous" lowest level FA). The Binding Update is relayed down towards the previous care-of address, and each regional foreign agent in the hierarchy receivingscope of thisnotification removes its binding fordocument. 3.5 Caching Router Advertisements If done during a handoff, message exchange 1 in Figure 1 imposes an additional latency penalty on theMN.L3 handoff process. In order to remove thisway, the MN updates allsource of latency, theRegional FAsinter-FA Router Solicitation and Advertisement exchange SHOULD be performed in advance of handoff. A process SHOULD be in place at the"old" hierarchical branch between the "common route" FAoFA to solicit its neighbouring nFAs at a predefined time interval (MIN_SOLICITATION_INTERVAL). This interval SHOULD NOT be set too small to avoid unnecessary consumption of network bandwidth and nFA processing resources. The minimum value of MIN_SOLICITATION_INTERVAL is 1 sec. If the"old" lowest level FA. ItFA Challenge/Response mechanism in [11] isassumed that GFA/FAs withinused then thesame hierarchical domain share a Security Association which canMIN_SOLICITATION_INTERVAL must beusedset toperform this deregistration. The MN will be ablea value smaller or equal toperform regional deregistrations through intermediate regional FAs if the GFA shares its GFA-MN security association with the regional FAs. Otherwisetheregional deregistration will be performed byCHALLENGE_WINDOW (in nFA) so that theGFA. 3.4 Smooth Handoffs between Hierarchies (GFAs) WhennFA challenge does not expire before the MNmoves between domains it receives Mobility Agent extensions containing a new GFA IP address.issues the Registration Request. TheMN registers with its HA usingoFA SHOULD cache thenew GFA IP address as care-of address. In ordermost recent advertisements from its neighbouring nFAs. These advertisements should be sent toMIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 13] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 improve inter-domain handoffs it may usethePrevious Foreign Agent extensionMN inthe Regional Registration Request [4]. This resultsmessage 2b with a TTL=1. The oFA SHOULD also have a mechanism in place to create asmooth handoff between the domains. A new flaglist of neighbouring nFAs. The minimum support isrequired in the Binding Update messagetoperformmanually configure asmooth handoff while maintaining the existing bindinglist of nFAs for each FA in the"previous" FA. Thisnetwork with which an L3 handoff isthe "S" bit for the simultaneous binding. This simultaneous bindingpossible. The list will depend on deployment and radio coverage. It isnecessary inalso possible to specify another protocol to achieve nFA discovery, but it is outside thecase in whichscope of this document. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 16] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 3.6 Movement Detection and MN Considerations When the MNonly momentarily moves "forward"receives an Agent Advertisement with a Mobility Agent extension, it should perform actions according to thenew domain, then returns backfollowing movement detection mechanisms. The MN MUST be: - "Eager" tothe "previous" FA (domain) before its previous binding expires. In this case the binding forperform new bindings, - "Lazy" in releasing existing bindings. The above means that the MN MUST perform Registrations withthe "previous"any new FAmust be maintained. Followingfrom which it receives an advertisement (i.e. MN is Eager), as long as there are no locally-defined policies in thenew Binding Update message withMN that discourage the"S" flag added which replaces one bituse of theReserved space.discovered FA. For example, the MN may have a policy based on the cost of service. The"S" flagmethod by which the MN determines whether the FA is a new FA is describedbelow. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type |A|I|M|G|S| Rsv | Lifetime | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Mobile Node Home Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Care-of Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | + Identification + | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Extensions ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- S Simultaneous Bindings flag (see [1]). When set (1) it indicates that this binding forin [1] and may make use of an FA-NAI extension. However the MNmust be added to the binding list andMUST NOTreplacerelease existing bindingsfor that MN. 3.5 L2 Address Considerations for NAMONC Handoffs MNs connected to networks utilising interfaces such as ethernet (e.g. between FAsuntil it no longer receives advertisement from the old FA andwireless access points) MAY use an L2 extension totheRegistration messages. Such an extensionlifetime of its existing binding expires (i.e. MN isrequired in Ethernet- based networks whenLazy). If the MNperforming a registrationhas at least one existing binding with an FA, additional simultaneous Registrations are performed requesting aFA whichshort lifetime. This isnot its first-hop router needs to communicate its L2 addressdone tothat FA. Thereforelimit theFA must uselifetime of temporary bindings and therefore limit bandwidth usage. Temporary bindings occur when theL2 address in this extensionMN is moving between FAs and uses PRE-REGISTRATION handoff tocommunicate withachieve low loss IP mobility. By limiting theMN instead oflifetime, theL2 source address ofRegistrations time out quickly avoiding theincoming Registration Request message as specified in RFC2002. Such an extension is described in section 5 of this draft. In many cases MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 14] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 wireless standards have defined special L2 interfacesneed for the MN to cancel thewireless network which allows these networksregistration. Temporary bindings are also useful toresolve the mappingsupport ping- ponging betweenMN IP address andFAs. 3.7 Simultaneous Bindings Simultaneous bindings are used by a GFA or HA to decouple L3 handoff from L2address withouthandoff and to reduce packet loss. Simultaneous bindings allow a GFA or HA to bicast packets destined to theneedMN touse these extensions. Therefore such extensions would not be needed. 3.6 Advantagesmultiple potential future MN locations before the MN actually moves there. Simultaneous bindings andApplicability of NAMONC Handoff Method The NAMONC Handoff method is applicablebicasting are also useful toscenarios wheresupport ping- ponging. Using normal Mobile IPRegistrations are supported by the mobile nodeswith an HA only and no GFA, thenetwork.MN MAY perform registrations with the HA using simultaneous bindings. Thismethodiscompatible with RFC2002described in [1] andtherefore is based on the same security model includingtheuse of AAA. It is assumed that FAs are ablemethod toobtain L2 triggers fromanticipate MN movement by interacting with the wirelessnetwork which inform the FA that anL2handoff procedureisbeing initateddescribed in Section 3.6. However, having multiple simultaneous bindings fora certainthe MNto another access point or radio network having a certain ID. The FA must be able to determineat theIP address ofHA causes thenew FA from this ID using methods whichHA to send multiple copies of data packets towards mutliple FAs that may bespecific totopologically distant. Bicasting from thewireless network and areHA is notconsidered here. Ifefficient unless theFA determines thatHA is close to theIDFAs in question. Also, if the round-trip time between the HA and FAs iswithin its coverage area then NAMONC Handoff shouldnotbe initiated. This "anticipated" L2 trigger must allow enough time for the NAMONC Handoff procedure to be performed. In many wireless systemsnegligible, theL2MN's new Registration and therefore L3 handoffprocedure involvescan be delayed. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 17] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 If anumber of message exchanges before the effective L2GFA is present, low loss handoff isperformed. Therefore the NAMONC Handoff method can be initiated atachieved by bicasting traffic from thebeginning ofGFA to theL2 handoff procedureoFA andcompleted beforetheL2 handoff is completed. It may be necessary to engineernFA while thesystem such that this succession of eventsMN isensured.moving between them. TheNAMONC Handoff method provides advantagesMN sets the "S" bit in thefollowing cases: -Registration Request [2]. Whenthe MNa Regional Registration Request haslocally defined policiesthe "S" bit set, the receiving regional FA or GFA thatdetermine a preferencehas an existing binding with the MN adds the relevant new binding forone access over another (e.g. service cost) and therefore where it is necessary to allowthe MNto selectbut also maintains any existing bindings it has for theappropriate FAMN, bicasting traffic toconnect to. - When L3 cannot rely upon L2 security (betweenthe MNand FA) to make modifications to IP routing and therefore authenticated Mobile IP messages are required. Inat both FAs. If thefirst caseMN has simultaneous active bindings with FAs, itis necessarycould (but preferably should not) receive multiple copies of the same traffic directed toinvolve eventual local MN policies init. The use of simultaneous bindings does not mean that themovement detection procedure as described in 3.2. 4. Network Initiated, Mobile Terminated (NIMOT) Handoff Method As discussed in the Introduction, inMN is receiving packets contemporarily from multiple sources. This depends on theNetwork-Assisted Handoff method,characteristics of theFA makes useaccess (L2) technology. The bicasting ofinformation from layer 2 to optimize handoff by doingpackets involves sending afast "pre-registration" prior tocopy of theformal Mobile IP registration done bydata to theMN. The goal ofFA which theNetwork-Assisted Handoff designMN is moving to. Until the MN actually completes the L2 handoff totake maximum advantage of layer 2 information MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 15] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 without specifying particular layer 2 technologies. Thusthedesign depends on abstractnew FA and fully establishes the new L2_triggers_ thatlink, the new FA MAY receive packets for a MN to which it does not have avery broad set of characteristics exhibited by many radiodirect link layer2 protocols. In RFC 2002, no assumptions are made aboutconnection. The FA MAY: - drop all packets for theexistence of any layer 2 supportMN, or - buffer packets forhandoff. In pursuitthe MN. The choice of which action to take may depend on thelowest latency possible given such layer 2 information,type of traffic involved, but this is outside theNetwork-Assisted design proposes taking maximum advantagescope ofany layer 2 information available, and therfore that RFC 2002 requires enhancement.this document. TheNetwork-Assisted design proposes new messages that work together with standard Mobile-IP handoffMN MAY also in parallel attempt toreduce handoff latency. In this document, we will assume that theestablish a link-layerevents are signaledconnection with the MN. An FA MUST NOT send ICMP Destination Unreachable messages if it drops packets or is unable to deliver theForeign Agent as "triggers". We assume that any such triggers will be sufficient to derive thereceived IPaddressespackets due to unavailability of direct layer connection with theForeign Agents that will receive or sendMN. Appendix A contains more information about GFA considerations for thehand-off.PRE-REGISTRATION handoff. 3.8 L2 Address Considerations Ifsuchatriggerwired backbone network connects wireless access points and the wireless network is notavailable or ifbridged (i.e. theMN decides on its ownwireless access points are not acting as routers) so thata hand-off is to take place, then one oftheFAs can often still deriveFA is not directly on theidentity (IP address) ofsame link as theother from link-layer messages or through preconfiguration. In order forMN, theMobile IP protocolMN MAY use an L2 address extension toprovide low-latency hand-off, the following problems must be addressed: 1. Reducing the latency involved in the registration process. Although optimization ofthe Registrationprocessmessage when the MN isnot typically consideredperforming aHand-Off problem, this proposal assumesregistration. Because the MN is registering with an FA thatsuch a mechanismisin place. 2. Reducingnot its first-hop router, thelatency involved inL2 address of theMobile Node's movement detection process. 3. "Bi-casting"frame containing theMobile Node's trafficMN's registration packet is not MN's address. The MN must use some means totwo (or more) points of attachment, ensuring thatcommunicate its L2 address other than themobile's trafficframe address, which isdelivered as soon asthelink layer hand-off is completed. 4. Support for Reverse Tunneling, which MAY be required for private addresses. 5. The Security Relationships betweenmethod specified in [1]. To communicate its L2 address, themobility entities for inter-domain hand-offs. 6. Does not increase mobile power consumption 4.1 Registration Latency The Mobile IP protocol [1] requires thatMN includes aMobile Node registersGeneralised Link Layer Extension (see Section 7) witha Foreign Agent, and subsequentlyitsHome Agent, in order to have its packets delivered to its current point of attachment.registration. TheMobile IP Regional Registration [2] specification proposes optimized registration approaches using Gateway Foreign Agents (GFAs), which are mobility agents that act as concentration points for Foreign Agents within an Administrative Domain. GFAs allow a Mobile Node's registration messageFA uses the L2 address in the extension tobe processed bycommunicate with the MN. If aMobility Agent inparticular wireless L2 technology has defined a special L2 interface to thelocal domain, eliminatingwireless network that allows theneedFA tocontactresolve theHome Agent, which MAY be topologically distant. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teammapping between an MN IP address and an L2 El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page16]18] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 20014.2 Movement Detection The Mobile IP protocol [1] andaddress without theRegional Registration extension [2] require Mobile Nodes to listen for, or solicit, advertisements in order to detect that a movementneed toa new IP subnet has occurred. This movement detection mechanism introduces significant latency intouse thehand-off process, which causes service degradation, especially for real-time services. Service is further impacted givenextension, theadditional latency introduced throughextension is not needed. 3.9 Applicability of PRE-REGISTRATION Handoff Security for theregistration process that followsPRE-REGISTRATION handoff method is based on themovement detection, sincesame security model as [1] including themobile's traffic can only be delivered once alluse of AAA. A prerequisite for PRE-REGISTRATION is that theregistration has completed. There have been many solutions proposedFA or MN are able tosolve this problem, including increasingobtain an L2 trigger informing them of a pending L2 handoff procedure. The target of theadvertisement frequency. In networks where radio spectrumL2 handoff isexpensiveanother access point orbandwidthradio network which islimited,in theadditional signaling required for increasing advertisement frequency iscoverage area of aserious issue impacting deployability. In this document, we propose that the Foreign Agent take a pro-active approach and issue the Handoff messages on behalf ofnew FA. The L2 trigger information may be in theMobile Node (acting as a surrogateform ofsorts). When a Foreign Agent is aware that a hand-off is occurring at the link-layer, a trigger is sentIP address identifiers which may need to be resolved tothe MobileIPprotocol stack. +-----+ | GFA | +-----+ ^ | 3. Regional | | 4. Regional Reg Request | | Reg Reply | v +-----+ 1. Handoff Request +-----+ | | -----------------> | | | oFA | | nFA | | | 2. Handoff Reply | | +-----+ <----------------- +-----+ +-----+ Movement +-----+ | MN | - - - - - - - - -> | MN | +-----+ +-----+ Figure 3 - Source Trigger Pro-Active Handoff A source trigger (see Figure 3) is oneaddresses using methods thatis obtained bymay be specific to theold Foreign Agent (oFA) oncewireless network and are not considered here. If, for example, thelink layer detectsFA determines that theMobile NodeIP address of the new FA isdepartingwithin its coveragearea. A target trigger (see Figure 4), on the other hand, is one thatarea (i.e. isobtained by the new Foreign Agent (nFA) onceits own address) thelink layer detects thatPRE-REGISTRATION handoff should not be initiated. The L2 trigger must allow enough time for theMobile Node is arriving in its coverage area. Note that both triggers mayPRE-REGISTRATION handoff procedure to beavailable beforeperformed. In many wireless L2 technologies, theactual completionL2 handoff procedure involves a number of message exchanges before thelink layer handoff. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 17] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 The messages depicted in both Figures 3 and 4 are very similar. The main differenceeffective L2 handoff is performed. For such technologies, PRE-REGISTRATION handoff can be initiated at theinitiatorbeginning of theHandoff Request message. In both examples, an optional Gateway Foreign AgentL2 handoff procedure and completed before the L2 handoff isused, which requirescompleted. It may be necessary to engineer theusenetwork such that this succession of events is ensured. The PRE-REGISTRATION Handoff method is applicable in theRegional Registration messages [2]. In bothfollowing cases: - when thesource and target triggers, a Foreign Agent obtains link-layer information, such as power measurements,MN has locally defined policies thatindicate the necessity ofdetermine ahandoffpreference for one access over another, for example service cost, within the same or different technology, etc., and therefore where it is necessary to allow thenew Foreign Agent. InMN to select theevent of a source trigger, oFA transmits a Handoff Request messageappropriate FA with which tonFA. The Handoff Request MUST includeconnect, - when L3 cannot rely upon L2 security between the MN and the FA to make modifications to IP routing and therefore authenticated MobileNode's Home Address, Home Agent Address, remaining registration lifetime, as well asIP messages are required, - when theLink-Layer Address Extension (see Section 5). The GFA's identity MUST also be present, if one was used fortrigger to initiate theMobile Node's registration. Upon receipt ofhandoff is received at themessage, nFA MUST createMN. In theMobile Node's visitor entry, and respond withfirst case it is necessary to involve eventual local MN policies in theHandoff Reply message. +-----+ | GFA | +-----+ ^ | 3. Regional | |movement detection procedure as described in 3.2. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 19] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 4.Regional Reg Request | | Reg Reply | v +-----+ 1. Handoff Request +-----+ | | <----------------- | | | oFA | | nFA | | | 2. Handoff Reply | | +-----+ -----------------> +-----+ +-----+ Movement +-----+ | MN | - - - - - - - - -> | MN | +-----+ +-----+ Figure 4 - Target Trigger Pro-ActiveThe POST-REGISTRATION HandoffIn target triggers, the trigger occursMethod The POST-REGISTRATION handoff method is based onnFA, which results in the transmission ofaHandoff Request to oFA.network-initiated model of handoff. TheHandoff Request message MUST includetechnique does not require any MN involvement until theMobile Node's Link-Layer Address (see Section 5) in order foractual L2 connection with nFA is completed. The oFA and nFA perform a message exchange that allows the MN tocorrectly identifyestablish a temporary registration on the nFA until the MN performs a formal MobileNode.IP FA registration. Therequest message MAY include additional Mobile Node information, if such information was provided bytechnique derives its name because thelink layer. Upon receiptregistration occurs after L2 handoff is complete. POST-REGISTRATION makes use of bi-directional edge tunnels (BETs) to smooth packet delivery while therequest,MN is in transition between oFAMUST respond with the Handoff Reply message, which includes the Mobile Node's Home Address, Home Agent Address, remaining registration lifetimeandLink-Layer Address Extension.nFA. Ifa GFA was usedthe FA determines that there is no change in theMobile Node's registration, it's address MUST be supplied. Regardless ofFA, based on thedirection ofL2 trigger information, then theHandoff Request, if nFA receives GFA information withinPOST-REGISTRATION handoff procedures are not initiated. POST-REGISTRATION depends on standard AAA-based Mobile IP security [13], but for true low-latency handoff, pre-established security associations between FAs are necessary. In summary, POST- REGISTRATION handoff covers new cases that are not addressed by themessage from oFA, it SHOULD issue a Regional Registration Request withframework in [1]. 4.1 Operation In theGFA, which will respond withPOST-REGISTRATION method, the FA issues handoff messages on behalf of theRegional Registration Reply. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 18] INTERNET-DRAFT Low LatencyMobileIPv4 Handoffs February 2001 4.3 Ping-Pong effect Some link-layers are subject to rapid motionNode, acting as a surrogate ofMNs between two FAs. For example, even though link-layer power measurements may indicatesorts. The FA becomes aware that ahand-offhandoff isnecessary, the mobile may fail to attachabout to occur at L2 through thenew pointuse ofattachment, and return almost immediately to its old pointan L2 trigger. An FA can receive two types ofattachment. This event is known astriggers, a"ping-pong" effect. Data +-----+ Data +----+ +-------------|source trigger at oFA|<--------------------------| HA | | +-----+ +----+ v ^ | +----+ Handoff | | Data | MN | Request | | +----+ | | ^ v v | +-----+ +-------------| nFA | Data +-----+ Figureand a target trigger at nFA. Section 1.1 and Table 1 contain more details about source and target triggers. Figures 5- Bi-Casting byand 6 contain message sequences for source and target triggered POST-REGISTRATION handoff, respectively. Figures 7 and 8 contain message timing diagrams for theAnchor Foreign Agent Figuremessage sequences in Figures 5provides an example of bi-casting a Mobile Node's through both the oldandnew Foreign Agents. Bi-casting6. In Figure 5, a source trigger isestablishedobtained by oFA when L2 detects that theoFA issues a successful Handoff ReplyMN is about tonFA, or receivesdepart its coverage area. In Figure 6, asuccessful Handoff Reply from nFA. This causes oFA to forward all oftarget trigger is obtained by theMobile Node's traffic tonFA when L2 detects that thenFA, as well as toMN has just arrived in theMobile Node, if a link-layer channel exists. Figure 6 provides an example where bi-casting is performed oncoverage area of theGateway Foreign Agent, which is initiated bynFAsettingprior to the'S' bit (Simultaneous Binding) incompletion of theRegional Registration Request. DataL2 handoff. Note that both triggers are available before the actual completion of the link layer handoff. +-----+Data +-------------|1. Handoff Request +-----+ | | -----------------> | | 0. Source ~~~> | oFA|<-------------+|+-----+|vnFA |+----+ +-----+ Data +----+Trigger |MN| 2. Handoff Reply |GFA |<--------| HA|+----++-----++----+<----------------- +-----+ ^ | 3. Reg Request | | 4. Reg Reply | v +-----+ Movement +-----+ |+-------------| nFA |<-------------+ DataMN | - - - - - - - - -> | MN | +-----+ +-----+DataFigure65 -Bi-Casting by the Gateway Foreign Agent When simultaneous bindings are in effect, and a ping-pong event occurs, the mobile's service is guaranteed not to experience any additional latency beyond that imposed by the link-layer handoff. MIPv4 Handoffs Design TeamSource Trigger POST-REGISTRATION Handoff El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page19]20] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 20014.4 Reverse Tunneling Support In the event the Mobile Node requested Reverse Tunneling [5] support, by setting the 'T' bit in its Registration Request, the+-----+ 1. Handoffmessage fromRequest +-----+ | | <----------------- | | | oFA(see Sections 4.7 and 4.8) includes the 'T' bit enabled to inform| | nFAto establish a bi-directional tunnel for the visitor entry. 4.5 Security Relationships The Mobile IP Regional Registration specification [2] requires that the communicating Mobility Agents exchange authenticated messages. This imposes a requirement for Mobility Agents to share a pre- established security association. This assumption is valid for intra- domain mobility (mobility within an Administrative Domain). However, such a requirement introduces a scaling problem when the Mobility Agents are owned by separate Administrative Domains (ADs). Given that the existing AAA infrastructure is used to establish dynamic security associations between Foreign and Home Agents in different ADs, the same infrastructure could be used to establish the required security association for the purposes of inter-domain hand- offs (see Figure 7). +-----+ +-----+ | AAA |-------------->| AAA | +-----+ +-----+ ^ | | | | AAA | | Hand-Off|<~~~~ 0. Target | |Req2. Handoff Reply | |vTrigger +-----+ -----------------> +-----+ ^ |oFA3. Reg Request | |nFA4. Reg Reply |+-----+ +-----+v +-----+ Movement +-----+ | MN | - - - - - ->- - -> | MN | +-----+ +-----+ Figure76 -Inter-FA communication using AAA Note that itTarget Trigger POST-REGISTRATION Handoff The message sequences between oFA and nFA depicted in Figures 5 and 6 are very similar. The main difference ispossible for geographically neighboring Foreign Agents owned by different Administrative Domains to have a pre- established security association, which would reduce the latency introduced by the AAA infrastructure traversal. Given that such geographically neighboring FAs MAY be smallinnumber, such an approach MAY be reasonable. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 20] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 4.6 Operation A Foreign Agent can receive two different types of triggers informing itthe initiator ofa handoff (The event that causesthetrigger may be derived via link layer messaging assistance from the network or from the mobile): - a "source trigger" is whenHandoff Request message. In both theold FA is informed ofsource and target trigger cases, anupcoming link-layer handoff, - a "target trigger" occurs at the newFAwhen it is informedobtains link-layer information that indicates the necessity of alink layerhandoffis in progress. The method by which such triggers occur are link-layer specific, and are outsideto thescopenFA. In the event ofthis document. It is also possible thataparticular kind of link layer technology can support bothsourceand target triggers. 4.6.1 Foreign Agent Considerations Upon receipt of a trigger event, a Foreign Agent MAY issuetrigger, oFA transmits a HandoffrequestRequest message to nFA. The Handoff Request MUST include theForeign AgentMN's home address, HA address, remaining registration lifetime, and a Generalized Link-Layer Address Extension (see Section 7) with themobile is being handed off to/from. IfMN's L2 address. Upon receipt of themessage ismessage, nFA MUST create theresultMN's visitor entry, and respond with the Handoff Reply message. In the event of a target trigger, theType Of Trigger bit MUST be settrigger occurs on nFA, and nFA transmits a Handoff Request to oFA. The Handoff Request message MUST include the MN's L2 address in a Generalized Link-Layer Address Extension (see Section5) MUST be present.7) in order for oFA to correctly identify the MN. Themessage's Home Address and Home Agent Address fieldsrequest message MAYbe set to NULLinclude additional MN information, ifthissuch informationis not known at the timewas provided by themessage is transmitted.L2. Upon receipt ofa Handoff Request message withtheType Of Trigger bit set, a Foreign Agentrequest, oFA MUST respond with the Handoff Replymessage. The Handoff Reply MUST include both the Mobile Node's Home Address and Home Agent Address inmessage, including themessage header. TheMN's home address, HA address, remainingmobile'sregistration lifetimeMUST be included in the Reply's lifetime field. Furthermore, the Foreign Agent MAY include any security associations that were dynamically created. Ifand aGateway Foreign Agent was used in the Mobile's registration, the GFA's identity MUST be included in the Gateway Foreign AgentGeneralized Link-Layer Address Extension[2] MUST be present. A Foreign Agent that issues such a Handoff Reply with the Code field set to success (zero value) MUST "bi-cast" all packets destined to the Mobile Node to both the Mobile Node and to the new Foreign Agent. The Foreign Agent that receives a successful Handoff Reply message (one that includes a zero value in the Code field), a visitor entry is createdwith theinformation found in the message. The Foreign Agent MUST be prepared to deliver packets to the Mobile Node prior to receiving a Registration Request [1] from the Mobile Node. Note that it is possible for the encapsulation method used between oFA and nFA to be different from the one requested by the Mobile Node MIPv4 Handoffs Design TeamMN's link layer address. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 21] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001during its Registration process. When this occurs, the respective Foreign Agents MUST perform encapsulation translation. A Foreign Agent that receives a source trigger, it MUST send a Handoff Request message with the Type Of Trigger bit disabled. The message MUST also include the Mobile Node's Home Address and Home Agent Address in the message header. The remaining mobile registration lifetime MUST be included in the lifetime field. The Foreign Agent MAY also include any security associations that were dynamically created. If a Gateway Foreign Agent was used for the mobile, it's identity MUST be included in the Gateway Foreign Agent Address Extension [2]. Upon receipt of a Handoff Request with the Type Of Trigger bit disabled, a Foreign Agent MUST process the packet and respond with theMN oFA nFA HA/GFA | | | | | | |<~~~~~~~ L2-TT | | |<------------------| | | | HReq(t) | | | | | | | |------------------>| | | | HRply(t) | | | | | | | |...................| | | |<----------------->| | | |...................| | |<--------------------------------------->| | | | Tunneled Traffic | | | | to/from MN | | |<~ ~ ~ ~ L2-MHC | | | | (optional) | | | | | | | |- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >| | | RtSol | | | | | |<~ ~ ~ ~ L2-NHC | |<- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | (optional) | | | RtAdv | | | | | | |------------------------------------------------------------->| | HA Reg or RegReg | | | | | | | Figure 7 - POST-REGISTRATION HandoffReply message. If successfully processed, the Foreign Agent MUST createMessage Timing Diagram (Target-Trigger) Completion of POST-REGISTRATION handoff requires MN to perform aVisitor Entry for the Mobile Node,full FA andbe prepared to deliver packets received byHA/GFA registration. A trigger that signals theinitiatorcompletion of the handoff, designated as L2-NHC (Layer-2 Network HandoffRequest destined for theComplete) or L2-MHC (Layer-2 MobileNode. TheHandoffReply message MUST include the Home Address, Home Agent Address, lifetime value,Complete) in Figures 7 and 8, performs this function. If theLink-Layer Address Extension (see Section 5). A Foreign Agent thatMN receivesa Handoff Reply with the Code field set to success (zero value) MUST "bi-cast" all packets destined to the Mobile Node to both the Mobile Node and to the new Foreign Agent. If the message received by the new Foreign Agent contained a GFA IP Address Extension [2], and it shares a security association with the GFA,an L2-MHC trigger, itMUST issueSHOULD send aRegional Registration Request to the GFA. The Regional Registration Request's Care-Of address field MUST be set to the local Foreign Agent's address, while the GFA IP Address MUST be set to the address of the recipient of the request.Router Solicitation message. Therequest's lifetime field is setRouter Solicitation causes nFA toan administratively configured value. A successful Regional Registration Reply MUST causesend a Router Advertisement, allowing theForeign AgentMN tocreateperform avisitor entry for thecomplete MobileNode. If aIP or RegionalRegistration Reply message is received withRegistration. Alternatively, if thecode field set to DO_NOT_SERVICE_MN (Section 4.9),nFA receives theForeign AgentL2-NHC trigger, nFA SHOULDNOT provide service to the Mobile Node. The Foreign Agent MAY enforce this by closing the Link-Layer connection (if possible), not issuing any Mobility Advertisements to the Mobile Node (assumingsend apoint-to- point Link Layer), or simply denying all Registration Requests withRouter Advertisement, allowing theerror code setMN to65 (Administratively Prohibited) [1]. Onceperform avisitor entry has been created, and thecomplete MobileNode establishes a link layer channel withIP or Regional Registration. The L2-MHC and L2-NHC triggers are optional. If they are not available, theForeign Agent, its traffic will be immediately delivered, along with a Mobility Advertisement message [1]. A Mobile NodeMN MUSTissue a Registration Request when it receiveswait until nFA sends aMobilityperiodic Agent Advertisementfrom a new Foreign Agent. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamand MUST respond by registering with nFA. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 22] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001Note that Foreign Agents MAY delay in sending Mobility Advertisements, especiallyMN oFA nFA HA/GFA | |<~~~~~~ L2-ST | | | | | | | |------------------>| | | | HReq(s) | | | | | | | |<------------------| | | | HRply(s) | | | |...................| | | |<----------------->| | | |...................| | |<--------------------------------------->| | | | | | | | Tunneled Traffic | | | | to/from MN | | | | | | |<~ ~ ~ ~ L2-MHC | | | | (optional) | | | | | | | |- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >| | | RtSol | | | | | |<~ ~ ~ ~ L2-NHC | |<- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | (optional) | | | RtAdv | | | | | | |------------------------------------------------------------->| | HA Reg or RegReg | | | | | | | Figure 8 - POST-REGISTRATION Handoff Message Timing Diagram (Source Trigger) 4.2 Role of BETs Bi-directional edge tunnels, or BETs, are used toreduce noticeable service disruptionachieve low loss of traffic to and from the MN during aping-pong effect. However, when doing so, the Foreign Agent MAY needhandoff and tore-issue a new Handoff Requestsmooth handoff when an MN undergoes ping-ponging. The tunnel from nFA back to oFA(and optionallyallows theRegional Registration messageMN toGFA),use its old care of address prior toextend the visitor entry's lifetime. Delaying Mobility Advertisements MAY also be done in wireless technologies that support dormant mobiles. Whenregistering with nFA. If this tunnel isdone, a Foreign Agent would typically wait to send the advertisement untilnot established, themobileold care of address cannot be used because it isno longer intopologically incorrect and may trigger egress filtering in nFA's subnet, resulting in thedormant mode. When dataMN's packets being dropped. Figure 9 provides an example of a BET. The BET isreceived byplaced when theForeign Agent foroFA issues adormant Mobile Node, it SHOULD initiate the link-layer mechanism that causes the mobile to "wake-up" (this is typically known as paging). The above procedures require that Foreign Agents issuesuccessful HandoffRequests asReply to nFA, or receives aresult of Link-Layer triggers. However,successful Handoff Reply from nFA. This causes oFA to forward thediscovery ofMN's traffic to theidentity ofnFA. The nFA forwards theForeign Agentstraffic further towhich the Handoff messages must be sent is outsidethescope of this document.MN if an L2 connection exists. In theevent that a Foreign Agent handling a particular Mobile Node's visitor entry isreverse direction, as soon as MN comes up on the L2 connection with nFA, it can start sending packets with the old care of address, and nFA tunnels them toexpire,nFA, where they are detunneled andtheforwarded as if they originated through oFA. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 23] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency MobileNode has not yet issued a Registration Request,IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 Data +-----+ Data +----+ +------------>| oFA |<--------------------------| HA | | +-----+ +----+ v ^ ^ +----+ Handoff | | Data | MN | Request | | +----+ | | ^ v v | +-----+ +------------>| nFA | Data +-----+ Figure 9 - Bi-Casting by the Foreign Agent 4.3 Foreign Agent Considerations Upon receipt of a trigger event, an FAhas the option to transmitSHOULD issue anewHandoff Request message to theold Foreign Agent (and the optional Regional Registration RequestFA to which or from which theGFA). Whether the renewalmobile isperformed on behalf ofbeing handed off. If theMobile Nodemessage isa policy decision up tothenetwork administrator. A Foreign Agent MAY receive packets for a Mobile Node to which it does not haveresult of adirect link layer connection. At this point,target trigger, theForeign Agent MAY: 1. Drop all packets forType Of Trigger bit in theMobile Node 2. Buffer packets forHandoff Request message MUST be set and theMobile Node 3. Attempt to establish a link-layer connection withGeneralized Link-Layer Address Extension (see Section 7) MUST be present. The sender of themobile 4. Issue a Regional RegistrationHandoff Requestwith a zero lifetime Given that a Mobile Node's packets willis nFA and the handoff is target triggered. The message's home address and HA address fields MAY bedelivered priorset toregistration, a Mobile NodeNULL if this information isfree to discard all packets received from Foreign Agents with which it hasn't registered. When the new Foreign Agent receivesnot known at theMobile Node's Registration Request [1], its Anchor Foreign Agent (GFA as first-hop router) changes totime thenew Foreign Agent. The Foreign Agent MUST transmitmessage is transmitted. Upon receipt of a Handoff Request messagetowith theold Foreign AgentType Of Trigger bit set, the oFA MUST respond with the Handoff Reply message. The Handoff Reply MUST include both the MN's home address and HA address. The MN's remaining registration lifetime MUST be included in the Handoff Reply's lifetimefield set to zero. A Foreign Agentfield. Furthermore, the oFA issuing the Handoff Reply MAY include any security associations thatreceiveswere dynamically created. The oFA that issues a HandoffRequestReply with thelifetimeCode field set tozero is being informed that it is no longer the anchor point for the mobile. It MAY issue a Handoff Requestsuccess (zero value) MUST bi-cast all packets destined to thenew Foreign Agent inMN to both thefuture if it wishesL2 tokeep receivingwhich themobile's packets for possible delivery. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 23] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 When a Foreign Agent determines that itMN isno longer servicing a Mobile Node, it SHOULD issue a Regional Registration Request message with the lifetime field setcurrently connected and by tunneling tozero (0). This will cause the visitor entry associated with the Foreign Agent's Care-Of address ontheGFA tonFA.The oFA must also bedeleted. Foreign Agents MAY decideprepared tonot issue this message immediately when a link-layer trigger is received,receive tunneled packets from the nFA inorder to support smooth service during a ping-pong event. 4.6.2 Gateway Foreign Agent Considerations Upon receiptwhich the MN's packets appear with the old care of address. The nFA that receives aRegional Registration Request, a GFA MUST createHandoff Reply message with avisitor entry indicating the Mobile Node's current point of attachment. Inzero value in theevent thatCode field creates a visitor entryalready exists, the GFA SHOULD be able to create multiple visitor entries for the same Mobile Nodeswithdifferent Care-Of addresses. Ifthe'S' bit was enabledinformation found in theRegional Registration Request, the GFAmessage. The FA MUST beableprepared toforward the mobile'sdeliver packets toall Foreign Agents inthevisitor entries. When constructing the RegionalMN prior to receiving a RegistrationReply, the GFA SHOULD includeRequest [1] from theFA-FA authentication extension [2],MN, andset the lifetime fieldit MUST be prepared to tunnel packets sent by thelesser of: 1. number of seconds beforeMN under theMobile Node's Registration with its Home Agent will expire. 2. The lifetimeMN's old care ofthe locally created Visitor Entry. In the eventaddress to oFA. Note that it is possible for theRegional Registration Request's lifetime field was setencapsulation method used between oFA and nFA tozero (0), the GFA MUST remove the visitor entry associated withbe different from theCare-Of address inone requested by themessage. ShouldMN during El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 24] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 its Registration process. When this occurs, theGFA deciderespective FAs MUST perform encapsulation translation. An FA thatthe Foreign Agent is not to provide service to the Mobile Node, itreceives a source trigger MUSTissuesend aRegional Registration Reply message, with the code field set to DO_NOT_SERVICE_MN (see Section 4.9). 4.7Handoff RequestMessagemessage with the Type Of Trigger bit disabled. The sender of the Handoff Request message isused to inform a peer that a pro- activethe oFA and the handoff isbeing initiated.source triggered. TheHandoff Requestmessagecan be used for both sourceMUST also include the MN's home address, the HA address andtarget triggers, throughtheTypeLink Layer Address extension (see section 7). The MN's remaining registration lifetime MUST be included in the lifetime field. The oFA MAY also include any security associations that were dynamically created. Upon receipt of a Handoff Request with the Type Of Trigger'I'bitindisabled, themessage flags. When sent as a result ofnFA MUST process the packet and respond with the Handoff Reply message. If successfully processed, the nFA MUST create atarget trigger,visitor entry for theHome AddressMN, andHome Agent fields MAYbesetprepared tozero (unless this information was communicateddeliver tunneled packets received by thelink layer, which is outside the scopeinitiator ofthis document). MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 24] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type |S|x|I|M|G|r|T|x| Lifetime | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | MN Home Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Home Agent Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | + Identification + | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Extensions ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Type TBD (Handoff Request) S When set, and when no GFA address extension is present, it indicates that both oFAthe Handoff Request destined for the MN, andnFA will attempt to deliver datagrams directlytoMN, if a link-layer connection exists. If a GFA address extension is present, it implies that nFA should settunnel packets from the'S' bit inMN sent under itsregional registration. I Type of Trigger. A value of zero is a source trigger (sent by oFA), while a valueold care ofone is a target trigger (sent by nFA). M, G, T As defined in [1,5]. This refersaddres to thetunnel between oFAoFA. The Handoff Reply message MUST include the home address, HA address, lifetime value, andnFA, or, if GFA IP address extension is present, totheparametersGeneralized Link-Layer Address Extension (see Section 7) with the MN's link layer address. An oFA thatshould be requested inreceives a Handoff Reply with theRegional Reg Req. Lifetime The requested LifetimeCode field set to success (zero value) MUST bi-cast all packets destined forwhich nFA will servethe MN to both the MN onbehalf of oFA, without requiring a new registration. MN Home Address The home address of the mobile node. When using a private address,theGold L2 andT flagsby tunneling to the nFA. The oFA must also be prepared to receive packets sentand a GRE Key extension must be included. Home Agent Addr The home agent addressby the MN under its old care of address on themobile node. Identification As in definednew L2 that are tunneled by nFA. Once a visitor entry has been created in[1]. Extensions The Message MUST include LLA (see Section 5), the FA-FA Authentication Extension [2],nFA, andMAY include GFA IP address. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 25] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 4.8 Handoff Reply Message The Handoff Reply message is sent in response totheHandoff Request message. When a source trigger causedMN establishes an L2 connection with theHandoff Request message tonFA, its traffic will besent, this message is sentimmediately delivered, along witha successful codean Agent Advertisement message [1]. The nFA can determine when to send the Agent Advertisement by the L2-NHC trigger. If the MN receives an L2-MHC trigger, it can send an Agent Advertisement Solicitation. Alternatively, if neither L2 trigger is available, theVisitor Entry was successfully created. WhenMN will respond to atarget trigger causedperiodic Agent Advertisement sent according to [1]. In any case, theHandoff Request message, receiptMN can continue to use its old care ofthis message with a successfuly code SHOULD causeaddress without any delay in uplink L3 connectivity until it is established on theVisitor Entrynew L3 since the nFA tunnels its packets back tobe created. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Code | Lifetime | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |S|x|I|M|G|r|T|x| Reserved | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |the oFA. An MNHome Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | HomeMUST issue a Registration Request when it receives an AgentAddress | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | + Identification + | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Extensions ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Type TBD (Handoff Reply) Code A value indicating the result ofAdvertisement from theHandoff Request. See below for a list of currently defined Code values. Lifetime IfnFA, completing theCode field indicatesL3 handoff. Note that theregistration was accepted,nFA MAY delay sending an Agent Advertisement, especially to reduce noticeable service disruption during a ping- pong. However, when doing so, theLifetime field is setnFA MAY need to re-issue a new Handoff Request to oFA, to extend thenumber of seconds remaining beforevisitor entry's lifetime. In theregistration is considered expired. A value of zero indicatesevent that themobile nodevisitor entry for an MN at nFA is about to expire and the MN hasbeen deregistered. A value of 0xffff indicates infinity. Ifnot yet issued a Registration Request, theCode field indicates thatnFA has theregistration was denied,option to transmit a new Handoff Request message to thecontents ofoFA to renew theLifetime field are unspecified and MUST be ignoredregistration. Whether the renewal is performed onreception. S When set, and when no GFA address extensionbehalf of the MN ispresent, it indicates that both oFA and nFA will attempt to deliver datagrams directly to MN, if a link-layer connection exists. IfaGFA address extension is present, it implies that nFA should setpolicy decision up to the'S' bit in its regional registration. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamnetwork administrator. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page26]25] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001I Type of Trigger. A value of zero isAn FA MAY receive packets for asource trigger (sent by oFA), whileMN to which it does not have avaluedirect link layer connection. The FA MAY: - drop all packets for the MN, or - buffer packets for the MN. The choice ofonewhich action to take may depend on the type of traffic involved, but this isa target trigger (sent by nFA). M, G, T As definedoutside the scope of this document. The MN MAY also in[1,5]. This refersparallel attempt to establish a link-layer connection with thetunnel between oFA and nFA, or,MN. An FA MUST NOT send ICMP Destination Unreachable messages ifGFA IP address extensionit drops packets or ispresent,unable to deliver theparameters that should be requested in the Regional Reg Req. MN Home Address The home addressreceived IP packets due to unavailability of direct layer connection with themobile node. When usingMN. Given that aprivate address, the G and T flags mustMN's packets will besent anddelivered prior to aGRE Key extension must be included. Home Agent Addr The home agent address ofproper registration, themobile node. Lifetime The requested Lifetime forMN MAY discard all packets received from FAs with which it has not registered. When the nFAwill servereceives theMN on behalf of oFA, without requiring a new registration. Identification As in defined in [1]. Extensions The Message MUST include LLA (see Section 5)MN's Registration Request [1] and theFA-FA Authentication Extension [2]. 4.9 Error Values The following table containsHA's or GFA's successful Registration Reply [1][2], it MUST transmit a Handoff Request message to thename of Code [6]oFA with the lifetime field set tobe returned inzero. An oFA that receives aRegistration Reply,Handoff Request with thevaluelifetime field set to zero is being informed that it is no longer the anchor point for theCode,mobile. The oFA SHOULD stop bicasting at this point, and tear down thesection in whichreverse tunnel from nFA, since theerrorMN isfirst mentioned in this specification. Error Name Value Section of Document ---------------------- ----- ------------------- DO_NOT_SERVICE_MN TBD 4.6.1 4.10 Security Considerations Similarnow fully connected at L3 on the new subnet. The oFA MAY issue a Handoff Request to[2], this specification assumes thatthelocal Foreign Agent, andnFA in theGFA inherently trust each other. This MAYfuture if it wishes to keep receiving the mobile's packets for possible delivery. 4.4 Handoff Request Message The Handoff Request message is used to inform a peer that a POST- REGISTRATION handoff is being initiated. The Handoff Request message can beachievedused for both source and target triggers, through theuseType of Trigger 'I' bit in the message flags. When sent as along lived security association. This specification introducesresult of anew changetarget trigger, the home address and HA fields MAY be set toMobile IP,zero (unless this information was communicated by the link layer, which is outside theability for a Mobile Node to receive packets from a Foreign Agent to which it has not yet registered. In the event that the Mobile Node does not wish to receive packets from unknown Foreign Agents, it MAY drop them. Although this document does not specify how Foreign Agents can identify, or track, Mobile Nodes, it is assumed that the wireless MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 27] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latencyscope of this document). El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 26] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001link layer be sufficiently secure in order to correctly identify a Mobile Node. Wireless networks0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type |S|x|I|M|G|r|T|x| Lifetime | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | MN Home Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | HA Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | + Identification + | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Extensions ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Type TBD (Handoff Request) S When set it indicates thatdo not provide such featuresboth oFA and nFA willbe subjectedattempt toimpersonation attacks, where malicious nodes could cause the Foreign Agentsdeliver datagrams directly tobelieve thatMN, if aMobile Node has moved to other service areas. 4.11 Advantages and Applicabilitylink-layer connection exists. I Type ofNIMOT Handoff Method The NIMOT handoff approach allows foreign agents to communicate directly aboutTrigger. A value of zero is apending handoff, and does not require any IP layer messages to besource trigger (request sentto or fromby oFA), while amobile node priorvalue of one is a target trigger (request sent by nFA). M, G, T As defined in [1,5]. This refers to thelink layer handoff event. Therefore, it does not place the mobile node's IP stack or Mobile IP client implementation on the critical path after a needtunnel between oFA and nFA. Lifetime The requested Lifetime forhandoff is recognized but before the handoff can take place. This separation is necessary when the link layer (orwhich nFA will serve thelaws of physics) imposes hard deadlinesMN on behalf of oFA, without requiring a new registration. MN Home Address The home address of thetime at whichMN. When using ahandoffprivate address, the G and T flags mustoccur, such as whenbe sent and amobile node is rapidly moving outGRE Key extension must be included. HA Addr The HA address ofa radio coverage area, but whenthe mobilenode's IP stack is not implemented as a hard real-time system. Because a NIMOT handoffnode. Identification As in defined in [1]. Extensions The Message MUST include LLA (see Section 7) and the FA-FA Authentication Extension [2]. 4.5 Handoff Reply Message The Handoff Reply message istriggered by some unspecified mechanism that informssent in response to theold or new foreign agent thatHandoff Request message. When ahandoff is needed,source trigger caused theNIMOT approach is only applicableHandoff Request message tonetworks where such a mechanismbe sent, the Handoff Reply message isavailable. For example,sent with alink layer may provide power measurements or other indicationssuccessful code if the Visitor Entry was successfully created. When a target trigger El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 27] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 caused the Handoff Request message, receipt ofradio signal quality thatthe Handoff Reply message with a successfuly code SHOULD cause theold or new foreign agentVisitor Entry tosend the NIMOT handoff messages. Any such indications must also provide each foreign agent involved in the handoff with the identity of the other, so that messages can be sent to the right place. This may involve mapping link layer information onto foreign agent identities. Also, the foreign agents involved in a handoff must have pre-provisioned security arrangements so that the NIMOT messages can be authenticated. If a handoff is to be completed as a result of the NIMOT messaging without continuing to bicast traffic to both the old and new coverage areas, then any link layer handoff indications must alsobesecurely authenticated so that traffic to the old point of attachment is not improperly halted. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 28] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 5. Generalized Link Layer Address Extension This section defines the Generalized Link Layer Address (LLA) Extension, used by any that needs to communicate Link Layer Addresses. The format of the extension follows MIER [7], and each sub-type of link-layer address defines its own sub-structure. This draft defines two sub-types, the IMSI and the Ethernet Address. Future RFCs should allocate their own sub-type and define their own address formats.created. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type |LengthCode |Sub-TypeLifetime |LLA ...+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |S|x|I|M|G|r|T|x| Reserved | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | MN Home Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | HA Address | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | + Identification + | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Extensions ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Type TBD(skippable) [1] Length The length(Handoff Reply) Code A value indicating the result of theLink Layer Address +Handoff Request. See below for a list of currently defined Code values. Lifetime If theone octet Sub-TypeCode fieldSub-Type Thisindicates that the registration was accepted, the Lifetime fieldcontainsis set to theLink Layer sub-type identifier LLA Containsnumber of seconds remaining before theLink Layer Address In this document, two subtypes are defined: 1 International Mobile Station Identity (e.g. [8]) 2 Ethernet 48 bit MAC address [9] 3 64 bit Global ID, EUI-64 [10] 5.1 IMSI Link Layer Address Extension The IMSI Link Layer Address Extension containsregistration is considered expired. A value of zero indicates that theInternational Mobile Station Identity. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |mobile node has been deregistered. A value of 0xffff indicates infinity. If the Code field indicates that the registration was denied, the contents of the Lifetime field are unspecified and MUST be ignored on reception. S When set it indicates that both oFA and nFA will attempt to deliver datagrams directly to MN, if a link-layer connection exists. I Type| Length | Sub-Type | IMSI ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamof Trigger. A value of zero is a source trigger (reply sent by nFA), while a value of one is a target trigger (reply sent by oFA). M, G, T As defined in [1,5]. This refers to the tunnel between oFA and nFA. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page29]28] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001Type TBD (skippable) [1] LengthMN Home Address Thelengthhome address of theIMSI field +mobile node. When using a private address, theone octet Sub-Type field Sub-Type 1 IMSI ContainsG and T flags must be sent and a GRE Key extension must be included. HA Addr The HA address of theIMSI, inmobile node. Lifetime The requested Lifetime for which nFA will serve theform: <IMSI>:<Connection Id> WhereMN on behalf of oFA, without requiring a new registration. Identification As in defined in [1]. Extensions The Message MUST include LLA (see Section 7) and the<IMSI> is an ASCII-based representationFA-FA Authentication Extension [2]. 4.6 Applicability of POST-REGISTRATION Handoff Method The POST-REGISTRATION handoff approach allows FAs to communicate directly about a pending handoff, and does not require any IP layer messages to be sent to or from a MN prior to theInternationalL2 handoff event. Therefore, it does not place the MN's IP stack or MobileStation Identifier, most significant digit first, ":"IP client implementation on the critical path after a need for handoff isASCII 0x3a, andrecognized but before theConnection IDhandoff can take place. This separation is necessary when theASCII representationlink layer imposes hard deadlines on the time at which a handoff must occur, such as when a MN is rapidly moving out of asmall, decimal number used for distinguishing different link-layer connections from the same device. 5.2 Ethernet Link Layer Address Extension The Ethernet Link Layer Address Extension containsradio coverage area, but when the48 bit Ethernet MAC Address,MN's IP stack is not implemented asdefined in [9]. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | MAC ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length 7 (includesa hard real-time system. Because a POST-REGISTRATION handoff is triggered by an unspecified mechanism that informs theSub-Type field) Sub-Type 2 MAC MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 30] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 ContainsoFA or nFA that an L2 handoff is pending, the48 bit Ethernet MAC Address. 5.3 IEEE 64-Bit Global Identifier (EUI-64) Address Extension The 64-Bit Global Identifier (EUI-64) Address Extension containsPOST-REGISTRATION approach is only applicable to networks where such a mechanism is available. For example, an L2 may provide power measurements or other indications of radio signal quality that cause the64 bit address, as definedoFA or nFA to send the POST-REGISTRATION handoff messages. Any such indications must also provide each FA involved in[10]. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | MAC ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length 7 (includestheSub-Type field) Sub-Type 3 MAC Containshandoff with the64-Bit Global Identifier Address. 6. IANA Considerations The number foridentity of theGeneralized Link Layer Address Extension in section 5 is taken fromother, so that messages can be sent to thenumbering space defined for Mobileright place. This may involve mapping L2 information onto FA IPregistration extensions definedaddresses. Also, the FAs involved inRFC 2002 [1]. These MUST NOT conflict with any numbers used in RFC 2002[1], RFC 2344 [5], RFC 2356 [12], RFC 2794 [13] and RFC 3012 [11]. Ina handoff must have pre- provisioned security arrangements so that theNIMOT Handoffs method,POST-REGISTRATION messages can be authenticated. If a handoff is to be completed as a result of theCode values specified for errors, listed in section 4.9, MUST NOT conflict withPOST-REGISTRATION messaging without continuing to bicast traffic to both the old and new coverage areas, anyother code values listedL2 handoff indications must also be securely authenticated so that traffic to the old point of attachment is not improperly halted. POST-REGISTRATION handoff is appropriate inRFC 2002 [1], RFC 2344 [5], RFC 2356 [12], RFC 2794 [13] and RFC 3012 [11]. Also Sections 4.7 and 4.8 require numbers assigned fromtheMobile IP control message type address space. The numbers assigned MUST NOT conflict with [1] and [2]. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamfollowing cases: - L2 triggers are available on the network to indicate that L2 handoff is pending. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page31]29] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 20017. References [1] C. Perkins, Editor. "IP Mobility Support", RFC 2002, October 1996. [2] E. Gustafsson, A. Jonsson and C. Perkins, "Mobile IP Regional Tunnel Management ", draft-ietf-mobileip-reg-tunnel-03.txt (work in progress), July 2000. [3] S. Bradner. "Key words for use- Pre-provisioned security mechanisms are inRFCsplace toIndicate Requirement Levels". BCP 14. RFC 2119. March 1997. [4] C. Perkinsallow fast andD. Johnson, "Route Optimization in Mobile IP",draft-ietf-mobileip-optim-10.txt (work in progress), November 2000. [5] G. Montenegro, "Reverse Tunneling for Mobile IP", RFC 2344, May 1998. [6] S. Hanks, T. Li, D. Farinacci,secure messaging between the FAs andP. Traina. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE). Request for Comments (Informational) 1701, Internet Engineering Task Force, October 1994. [7] M. Khalil, R. Narayanan, H. Akhtarbetween the MN andE. Qaddoura, "Mobile IP Extensions Rationalization (MIER)", draft-ietf-mobileip-mier- 05 (work in progress), Dec. 1999 [8] TIA/EIA/IS-95-B [9] D. Plummer, "An Ethernet Address Resolution Protocolan FA. - Access point choice by the MN is not a concern orConverting Network Protocol Addresses to 48.bit Ethernet Address for Transmissionchoice requires user intervention and therefore is not onEthernet Hardware", RFC 826, Symbolics,Inc., November 1982. [10] IEEE, "Guidelinesthe critical path for64-bit Global Identifier (EUI-64)handoff. 5. Combined Handoff Method The combined method uses both PRE-REGISTRATION and POST-REGISTRATION handoff by running the PRE-REGISTRATION method and in parallel exchanging the POST-REGISTRATION handoff messages between oFA and nFA. The only case not considered already in the POST-REGISTRATION method is mobile-initiated handoff. In the mobile-initiated case, the Handoff Request message is initated by the oFA or nFA when it receives the RegistrationAuthority", http://standards.ieee.org/regauth/oui/tutorials/EUI64.html, March 1997. [11] C. Perkins, P. Calhoun,Request from the MN. The combined method follows the PRE-REGISTRATION Handoff when it is successful before the completion of the MN's L2 handoff. However, if PRE-REGISTRATION does not complete prior to the expiration of a timer on one or the other of the FAs, POST-REGISTRATION handoff is used. Using POST-REGISTRATION handoff insulates the MN from delays caused by errors such as loss of one of the Mobile IPChallenge/Response Extensions. RFC 3012, November 2000. [12] Montenegro, G.messages involved in PRE-REGISTRATION. The start of POST-REGISTRATION is gated by the expiration of a timer on the FAs. The timer is started at oFA following a source-trigger, at nFA following the target-trigger, or at oFA andV. Gupta, "Sun's SKIP Firewall TraversalnFA following the receipt of the Registration Request from the MN in the mobile- initiated case. The timer is reset if the Registration Reply message is received by the appropriate FA and sent to the MN. Although the POST-REGISTRATION Handoff Request and Handoff Reply messages are exchanged in advance, no forwarding of traffic between oFA and nFA is performed unless the timer expires. The timer should be set to a value that allows forwarding between oFA and nFA to occur before the MN completes the L2 handoff to nFA. 6. Reverse Tunneling Support The handoff methods support reverse tunneling. The MN may request reverse tunneling [5] by setting the 'T' bit in its Registration Request. In the case of POST-REGISTRATION, if the MN had requested Reverse Tunneling previously at oFA, the Handoff message from oFA (see Sections 4.7 and 4.8) includes the 'T' bit enabled to inform nFA to establish a BET forMobile IP", RFC 2356, June 1998. [13] P. Calhoun, C. Perkins, "Mobile IP Network Access Identifier Extension", RFC 2794, March 2000. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamthe visitor entry. Typically, the 'T' bit will always be set to ensure that any delays in the MN receiving its new care of address do not result in any delay in uplink packet transmission from the MN, but local policies and particular L2 El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page32]30] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 20018. Authors' Addresses The authorstechnologies may allow the reverse tunnel to becontacted atturned off unless theaddresses below: Karim El Malki Ericsson Radio Systems AB LM Ericssons Vag. 8 126 25 Stockholm SWEDEN Phone: +46 8 7195803 Fax: +46 8 7190170 E-mail: Karim.El-Malki@era.ericsson.se Pat R. Calhoun Network and Security Research Center, Sun Labs Sun Microsystems, Inc. 15 Network Circle Menlo Park, California, 94025 USA Phone: +1 650 786 7733 Fax: +1 650 786 6445 E-mail: pcalhoun@eng.sun.com Tom Hiller Lucent Technologies Rm 2F-218 263 Shuman Blvd Naperville, IL 60566-7050 USA Phone: +1 630 979 7673 Fax: +1 630 979 7673 E-Mail: tom.hiller@lucent.com James Kempf NetworkMN specifically requests it. 7. Generalized Link Layer Address Extension This section defines the Generalized Link Layer Address (LLA) Extension, used by any node that needs to communicate Link Layer Addresses. The format of the extension follows MIER [7], andSecurity Research Center, Sun Labs Sun Microsystems, Inc. 15 Network Circle Menlo Park, California, 94025 USA Phone: +1 650 786 5890 Fax: +1 650 786 6445 E-mail: james.kempf@eng.sun.com MIPv4 Handoffs Design Team [Page 33] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs February 2001 Peter J. McCann Lucent Technologies Rm 2Z-305 263 Shuman Blvd Naperville, IL 60566-7050 USA Phone: +1 630 713 9359 Fax: +1 630 713 4982 E-Mail: mccap@lucent.com Ajoy Singh Motorola 1501 West Shure Drive Arlington Heights, IL o 60004 USA Phone: +1 847 632 6941 E-mail: asingh1@email.mot.com Hesham Soliman Ericsson Radio Systems Torshamnsgatan 29, Kista Stockholm SWEDEN Phone: +46each sub-type of link-layer address defines its own sub-structure. This draft defines five sub-types. Future RFCs should allocate their own sub-type and define their own address formats. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 87578162 Fax: +469 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 84043630 E-mail: Hesham.Soliman@era.ericsson.se Sebastian Thalanany Motorola 1475 West Shure Drive Arlington Heights, IL - 60004 USA Phone: +1 847 435 9296 E-mail: sthalan1@email.mot.com The working group can9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | LLA ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length The length of the Link Layer Address + the one octet Sub-Type field Sub-Type This field contains the Link Layer sub-type identifier LLA Contains the Link Layer Address In this document, five subtypes are defined: 1 International Mobile Station Identity (e.g. [8]) 2 Ethernet 48 bit MAC address [9] 3 64 bit Global ID, EUI-64 [10] 4 Solicited IP Address 5 Solicited Access Point Identifier The following subsections describe the extensions. 7.1 IMSI Link Layer Address Extension The IMSI Link Layer Address Extension contains the International Mobile Station Identity. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 31] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | IMSI ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length The length of the IMSI field + the one octet Sub-Type field Sub-Type 1 IMSI Contains the IMSI, in the form: <IMSI>:<Connection Id> Where the <IMSI> is an ASCII-based representation of the International Mobile Station Identifier, most significant digit first, ":" is ASCII 0x3a, and the Connection ID is the ASCII representation of a small, decimal number used for distinguishing different link-layer connections from the same device. 7.2 Ethernet Link Layer Address Extension The Ethernet Link Layer Address Extension contains the 48 bit Ethernet MAC Address, as defined in [9]. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | MAC ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length 7 (includes the Sub-Type field) El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 32] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 Sub-Type 2 MAC Contains the 48 bit Ethernet MAC Address. 7.3 IEEE 64-Bit Global Identifier (EUI-64) Address Extension The 64-Bit Global Identifier (EUI-64) Address Extension contains the 64 bit address, as defined in [10]. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | MAC ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length 9 (includes the Sub-Type field) Sub-Type 3 MAC Contains the 64-Bit Global Identifier Address. 7.4 Solicited IP Address Extension The 32-bit Solicited IP Address Extension contains the IP address of the agent (FA) being solicited. This extension MAY be present in an ICMP Agent Solicitation as explained in Section 3.3. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | IP addr ... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 33] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length 5 (includes the Sub-Type field) Sub-Type 4 IP Address Contains the 32-Bit IP Address of the solicited node. 7.5 Solicited Access Point Identifier Extension The 32-bit Solicited Access Point Identifier Extension contains an Identifier of the Access Point to which the MN will move. This may be a wireless L2 identifier. The MN is able to solicit an advertisement from the FA servicing a certain Access Point by using this extension with Agent Solicitations as explained in Section 3.3. 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Type | Length | Sub-Type | AP ID... +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Type TBD (skippable) [1] Length 5 (includes the Sub-Type field) Sub-Type 5 AP ID Contains the 32-Bit Access Point Identifier. 8. IANA Considerations Section 7 introduces the Generalized Link Layer Address Extension numbering space that requires IANA management. This specification El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 34] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 makes use of the values 1-5, and all other values other than zero (0) are available for assignment via IETF consensus [14]. The numbers for the Generalized Link Layer Address Extension are taken from the numbering space defined for Mobile IP registration extensions defined in RFC 2002 [1]. These MUST NOT conflict with any numbers used in RFC 2002[1], RFC 2344 [5], RFC 2356 [12], RFC 2794 [13] and RFC 3012 [11]. In the POST-REGISTRATION Handoffs method, Sections 4.4 and 4.5 require numbers assigned from the Mobile IP control message type address space. The numbers assigned MUST NOT conflict with [1] and [2]. 9. Security Considerations A security consideration for PRE-REGISTRATION method involves changing the TTL for Router Advertisement messages sent between oFAs and nFAs, where multiple hops are present between oFA and nFA. The same applies to Registration Request messages sent by the MN to nFA routed through oFA and similarly Registration Reply messages. As discussed in Section 3.8, oFA and nFA must share a security association and oFA must be authorized to solicit nFA and relay Registration Request/Reply. In addition, the case involving tunneling of Agent Advertisements between the nFA and the MN requires restricitions to be relaxed so the TTL of the Router Advertisement is not required to be 1, as described in Section 3.4.2. Otherwise, PRE- REGISTRATION uses AAA-based security for both inter-domain and intra- domain handoff as described in [1] and [2]. Also, if the FA Challenge/Response mechanism in [11] is used then the MIN_SOLICITATION_INTERVAL must be set to a value smaller or equal to the CHALLENGE_WINDOW (in nFA) so that the nFA challenge does not expire before the MN issues the Registration Request. POST-REGISTRATION introduces a new change to Mobile IP, which is the possibility that a MN may receive packets from an FA with which it has not yet registered. In the event that the MN does not wish to receive packets from unknown FAs, it MAY drop them. In a similar way to PRE-REGISTRATION, oFA and nFA must share a security association required to protect the Handoff Request and Reply messages. Since the techniques outlined in this document depend on particular aspects of L2 handoff to optimize performance, some amount of L2 security is assumed. Both techniques depend on L2 triggers, and the security of handoff requires that the L2 triggers be secure. In addition, the POST-REGISTRATION technique depends on the ability of the wireless network to securely identify MNs. Although this document does not specify how FAs can identify or track MNs, it is assumed that the wireless L2 is sufficiently secure in order to correctly identify a MN. Wireless networks that do not provide such features will be subject to impersonation attacks, where malicious nodes could cause FAs to believe that a MN has moved to other service areas, and El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 35] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 to allow a bogus MN to obtain unauthorized service from an FA prior to performing a Mobile IP registration. The PRE-REGISTRATION technique instead depends on Mobile IP security between MN and FA, so the same security considerations in [1] apply. 9.1 AAA Considerations for Security For handoff between Administrative Domains (ADs), both techniques may experience additional latency if the MN must establish a security association with nFA prior to the handoff taking effect. For PRE- REGISTRATION, the need to establish a security association could delay the registration process so that no Registration Reply is received. For POST-REGISTRATION, it could result in the MN's traffic being delayed until the completion of a formal Mobile IP registration rather than as soon as the MN establishes an L2 connection at nFA. This section discusses an approach for reducing latency due to the need to establish a new security association. +-----+ +-----+ | AAA |-------------->| AAA | +-----+ +-----+ ^ | | | | AAA | | Hand-Off | | Req | | v +-----+ +-----+ | oFA | | nFA | +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ Movement +-----+ | MN | - - - - - - > | MN | +-----+ +-----+ Figure 11 - Inter-FA communication using AAA If the existing AAA infrastructure is used to establish dynamic security associations between FAs and HAs in different ADs, the same infrastructure could be used to establish the required security association for the purposes of inter-domain handoff as shown in Figure 11. Note that it is possible for geographically neighboring FAs owned by different ADs to have a pre-established security association, which would reduce the latency introduced by the AAA infrastructure traversal. Given that such geographically neighboring FAs MAY be small in number, such an approach MAY be reasonable. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 36] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 10. References [1] C. Perkins, Editor. "IP Mobility Support", RFC 2002, October 1996. [2] E. Gustafsson, A. Jonsson and C. Perkins, "Mobile IP Regional Tunnel Management ", draft-ietf-mobileip-reg-tunnel-03.txt (work in progress), July 2000. [3] S. Bradner. "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels". BCP 14. RFC 2119. March 1997. [4] C. Perkins and D. Johnson, "Route Optimization in Mobile IP",draft-ietf-mobileip-optim-10.txt (work in progress), November 2000. [5] G. Montenegro, "Reverse Tunneling for Mobile IP", RFC 2344, May 1998. [6] S. Hanks, T. Li, D. Farinacci, and P. Traina. Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE). Request for Comments (Informational) 1701, Internet Engineering Task Force, October 1994. [7] M. Khalil, R. Narayanan, H. Akhtar and E. Qaddoura, "Mobile IP Extensions Rationalization (MIER)", draft-ietf-mobileip-mier- 05 (work in progress), Dec. 1999 [8] TIA/EIA/IS-95-B [9] D. Plummer, "An Ethernet Address Resolution Protocol - or Converting Network Protocol Addresses to 48.bit Ethernet Address for Transmission on Ethernet Hardware", RFC 826, Symbolics,Inc., November 1982. [10] IEEE, "Guidelines for 64-bit Global Identifier (EUI-64) Registration Authority", http://standards.ieee.org/regauth/oui/tutorials/EUI64.html, March 1997. [11] C. Perkins, P. Calhoun, Mobile IP Challenge/Response Extensions. RFC 3012, November 2000. [12] Montenegro, G. and V. Gupta, "Sun's SKIP Firewall Traversal for Mobile IP", RFC 2356, June 1998. [13] P. Calhoun, C. Perkins, "Mobile IP Network Access Identifier Extension", RFC 2794, March 2000. [14] T. Narten, H, Alvestrand, "Guidelines for Writing an IANA Considerations Section in RFCs", BCP 26, RFC 2434, October 1998 El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 37] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 11. Authors' Addresses The authors may be contacted at the addresses below: Karim El Malki Ericsson Radio Systems AB LM Ericssons Vag. 8 126 25 Stockholm SWEDEN Phone: +46 8 7195803 Fax: +46 8 7190170 E-mail: Karim.El-Malki@era.ericsson.se Pat R. Calhoun Sun Microsystems Laboratories Sun Microsystems, Inc. 901 San Antonio Rd., UMTV 29-221 Palo Alto, California, 94303 USA Phone: +1 650 786 7733 Fax: +1 650 786 6445 E-mail: pcalhoun@eng.sun.com Tom Hiller Lucent Technologies Rm 2F-218 263 Shuman Blvd Naperville, IL 60566-7050 USA Phone: +1 630 979 7673 Fax: +1 630 979 7673 E-Mail: tom.hiller@lucent.com James Kempf Sun Microsystems Laboratories Sun Microsystems, Inc. 901 San Antonio Rd., UMTV29-221 Palo Alto, California, 94303 USA Phone: +1 650 336 1684 Fax: +1 650 691 0893 E-mail: james.kempf@sun.com El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 38] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 Peter J. McCann Lucent Technologies Rm 2Z-305 263 Shuman Blvd Naperville, IL 60566-7050 USA Phone: +1 630 713 9359 Fax: +1 630 713 4982 E-Mail: mccap@lucent.com Ajoy Singh Motorola 1501 West Shure Drive Arlington Heights, IL o 60004 USA Phone: +1 847 632 6941 E-mail: asingh1@email.mot.com Hesham Soliman Ericsson Radio Systems Torshamnsgatan 29, Kista Stockholm SWEDEN Phone: +46 8 7578162 Fax: +46 8 4043630 E-mail: Hesham.Soliman@era.ericsson.se Sebastian Thalanany Motorola 1475 West Shure Drive Arlington Heights, IL - 60004 USA Phone: +1 847 435 9296 E-mail: sthalan1@email.mot.com The working group can be contacted via the current chairs: Basavaraj Patil Phil Roberts Nokia Corporation Megisto Systems Inc. 6000 Connection Drive EMail: proberts@megisto.com Irving, TX 75039 USA Phone: +1 972-894-6709 El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 39] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 EMail: Raj.Patil@nokia.com Fax : +1 972-894-5349 12. Full Copyright Statement Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2001). All Rights Reserved. This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to others, and derivative works that comment on or otherwise explain it or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published and distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this document itself may not be modified in anyway, such as by removing the copyright notice or references to the Internet Society or other Internet organizations, except as needed for the purpose of developing Internet standards in which case the procedures for copyrights defined in the Internet Standards process must be followed, or as required to translate it into languages other than English. The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be revoked by the Internet Society or its successors or assigns. This document and the information contained herein is provided onan "AS IS" basis and THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE." El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 40] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 Appendix A - Gateway Foreign Agents The Mobile IP Regional Registration specification [2] introduces the Gateway Foreign Agent (GFA), as a mobility agent that two FAs providing service to a MN have in common. Figure A.1 provides an example of a MN's initial registration through the GFA. If this is the first registration message, the message MUST be forwarded to the HA. All packets destined for the mobile will be delivered to the GFA, which in turn will forward the packets to the FA servicing the MN. Reg Req +-----+ Reg Req +----------->| oFA |--------------+ | +-----+ | | v +----+ +-----+ Reg Req +----+ | MN | | GFA |<------->| HA | +----+ +-----+ +----+ +-----+ | nFA | +-----+ Figure A.1 - Initial Registrations through GFA If the MN moves to a nFA that is serviced by a GFA common with oFA, the MN MAY issue a Regional Registration Request (see Figure A.2). The Regional Registration message does not need to be forwarded to the HA, since the MN's traffic can still be delivered to the same GFA. This optimized approach effectively reduces the latency involved in the registration process. +-----+ | oFA | +-----+ +----+ +-----+ +----+ | MN | | GFA | | HA | +----+ +-----+ +----+ | ^ | +-----+ | +------------>| nFA |-------------+ Regional Reg +-----+ Regional Reg Figure A.2 - Regional Registration through GFA Note that the GFA may also be the MN's first-hop router. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page 41] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 Handoffs May 2001 A.1 GFA Considerations in the PRE-REGISTRATION Method When there is a hierarchy of foreign agents between the GFA and the announcing FA, the announcing FA MAY include the corresponding FA addresses in order between its own address (first) and the GFA address (last) in the Mobility Agent Advertisement extension of its Agent Advertisements. If there are only two hierarchical levels, a foreign agent announces itself and a GFA in the Agent Advertisement; in the first and last address in the care of address field in the Mobility Agent Advertisement extension. There must be at least one care of address in the Mobility Agent Advertisement extension. If there is only one care of address it is the address of the GFA, and the MN is connected directly to it. The MN needs to choose the appropriate HA address in the Regional Registration Request. The following two subsections discuss options. A.1.1 Mobility Agent Extension Advertises FA and GFA Address Only In this case, there is always a single path from the MN to the GFA. The MN always performs Regional Registrations using the GFA address as the HA address and the advertising FA as care of address. As the Regional Registration Request is relayed towards the GFA, each FA receiving it checks whether it has an existing binding with the MN and whether the Regional Registration has the "S" bit set to request simultaneous bindings. If this is true and the Regional Registration is validated by the GFA, the FAs activate the simultaneous binding upon receiving the successful Regional Registration Reply from the GFA. It is not necessary to advertise all FA addresses in the hierarchical branch to the MN, thus reducing bandwidth usage over the wireless link. A.1.2 Mobility Agent Advertisement Extension Advertises all FAs In specific cases where multiple regional FA levels and multiple paths from the MN to the GFA are present and are advertised, it may becontacted vianecessary for thecurrent chairs: Basavaraj Patil Phil Roberts Nokia Corporation Motorola M/S M8-540 6000 Connection Drive 1501 West Shure Drive Irving, TX 75039 Arlington Heights, IL 60004 USA USA MIPv4 Handoffs Design TeamMN to identify the common route FA using the complete list of FAs in the hierarchical branch. It is assumed that the GFA advertises only one care-of address on all its interfaces towards the MN. The MN must cache the Mobility Agent Advertisement extensions for its active bindings. When it receives an advertisement from a previously unseen FA that has a different Mobility Agent Advertisement extension, it is eager to perform a new binding. The MN compares the IP addresses in the new Mobility Agent Advertisement extension with the cached Advertisements for its active bindings. If there is an IP address in common between these extensions, named the common route FA or GFA, the MN uses that IP address as the HA address and the destination address of its Regional Registration Request. In the case of a request for bicasting, the "S" bit is set. The care-of address El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page34]42] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001Phone: +1 972-894-6709 Phone: +1 847-632-3148 EMail: Raj.Patil@nokia.com EMail: QA3445@email.mot.com Fax : +1 972-894-5349 9. Full Copyright Statement Copyright (C)is the advertising FA's address. TheInternet Society (2000). All Rights Reserved. This document and translations of it mayMN adds a Hierarchical FA extension to the Regional Registration Request, in order to identify the regional FA path to becopied and furnishedfollowed by the Request up the hierarchy. A Regional FA receiving a Regional Registration Request with it's own address as HA address returns a Regional Registration Reply toothers, and derivative works that comment on or otherwise explain it or assistthe MN. If there is no IP address inits implementation may be prepared, copied, publishedcommon between the extensions, then the MN has moved into a new hierarchy anddistributed,the GFA advertised inwhole orthe new extension is different from the one inpart, without restrictionthe previously cached extensions. When the MN changes GFA, the MN uses the new GFA's IP address as care ofany kind, provided thataddress in its new Registration Request to theabove copyright notice and this paragraph are included on all such copiesHA andderivative works. However,adds the Hierarchical FA extension as described previously. If the MN has at least one existing active binding when it moves to the new GFA, it performs a low loss handoff as explained in thisdocument itself maydocument. The MN is able to perform GFA registration during PRE-REGISTRATION handoffs only if its binding lifetime with the GFA or HA does notbe modified in anyway, such asexpire during the period needed byremovingthecopyright notice or referencesMN to run PRE-REGISTRATION and complete its L2 handoff. Intermediate regional FAs are able to accept the MN's regional registration as simultaneous bindings only if the intermediate regional FA has an existing active binding for the MN. The resulting simultaneous binding therefore has a maximum possible lifetime equal to theInternet Society or other Internet organizations, except as needed for the purpose of developing Internet standardslifetime remaining inwhich caseits previously existing active binding. Once theprocedures for copyrights defined inregistration lifetime with theInternet Standards process must be followed,GFA oras requiredHA is about totranslate it into languages other than English. The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be revoked byexpire, theInternet Society or its successors or assigns. This document andMN must perform a new Mobile IP registration with theinformation contained herein is provided onan "AS IS" basis and THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE." MIPv4 Handoffs Design TeamHA. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page35]43] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001 AppendixAB -Gateway Foreign Agents The Mobile IP Regional Registration specification [2] introduces the Gateway Foreign Agent (GFA), as a mobility agentLow Latency Handoffs for Multiply-Interfaced MNs For MNs thattwo Foreign Agents providing service to a Mobile Nodehavein common. Figure 1 provides an example of a Mobile's initial registration, through the GFA. Given this is the first registration message, the message MUST be forwarded to the Home Agent. All packets destined for the mobile will be delivered to the GFA, which in turn will forwardtwo wireless network interfaces, either on thepackets tosame wireless network or on wireless networks having different wireless L2 technologies, theForeign Agent servicingtechniques discussed in this draft may be unnecessary if the MobileNode. Reg Req +-----+ Reg Req +----------->| oFA |--------------+ | +-----+ | | v +----+ +-----+ Reg Req +----+ |IP stack on the MN| | GFA |<------->| HA | +----+ +-----+ +----+ +-----+ | nFA | +-----+allows switching an IP address binding between interfaces. This Appendix discusses how multiple wireless interfaces can aid low latency handoff. FigureA.1 - Initial Registrations through GFA InB.1 illustrates theevent thatnormal and hierarchical MIPv4 models. As shown in themobile moves to a new Foreign Agentfigure, assume that the MN isserviced by a GFA thatconnected to Radio Network 1 (RN1) and iscommonregistered withoFA,oFA through which it is receiving traffic. Suppose MN enters theMobile Node MAY issue a Regional Registration Request (see Figure A.2). The Regional Registration message does not need to be forwardedcoverage area of RN2 and nFA and that it prefers connectivity to this network for reasons beyond theHome Agent, sincescope of this document (e.g. user preferences, cost, QoS available etc.). The MN activates themobile's traffic can still be deliveredinterface to RN2 but continues communicating through RN1. The MN may solicit advertisements from nFA through thesame GFA. This optimized approach effectively reducesinterface connected to RN1 to speed up thelatency involved inhandoff process, provided there is no TTL restriction, or it can solicit advertisements through theregistration process. +-----+interface connected to RN2 if it has been configured for IP traffic. +------+ +---------+ | HA |--------| (GFA) | +------+ +---------+ / \ / \ ... ... / \ / \ +------+ +------+ | oFA |+-----+ +----+ +-----+ +----+|MNnFA | +------+ +------+ |GFA| +------+ +------+ |HARN1 |+----+ +-----+ +----+|^RN2 | +------+ +------+ +------+ |+-----+MN |+------------>| nFA |-------------+ Regional Reg +-----+ Regional Reg---------> +------+ Movement FigureA.2B.1 -Regional RegistrationNetwork Model for Mobile IPv4 With Multi-Access Once the MN is registered with nFA and is successfully receiving and transmitting throughGFA Note thattheGFA may also benew network, it tears down theMN's first-hop router. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teaminterface to El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page36]44] INTERNET-DRAFT Low Latency Mobile IPv4 HandoffsFebruaryMay 2001Appendix B - Bicasting Applicability Statement Both NAMONC and NIMOT Handoffs propose using bicasting as a technique for delivering packets toRN1. If the MNthrough both the old and new FA. Bicasting is used in order to avoid dropping packets while the handoff is in progress andhas enough time todecouplecomplete this procedure without incurring degraded service or disconnection, the MN would experience a seamless multi-access handoffprocess from layer 2 handoff timing. Other techniques, for example buffering, have been proposed for smooth handoff [4]. Since the interaction between TCP and bicasting hasbut it may notbeen fully studied, bicasting shouldbeconsidered onlypossible incases where layer 2 support is availableall cases, due toco- ordinatenetwork coverage or for other reasons. Should multiple interface handoffsuch that duplicate packet delivery to the MN canbereduced or avoided, untilpossible then theinteractions between TCP and bicasting are more clearly understood. Neitherlow latencyhandoff technique is dependent onmethods described in this document are not necessary. In order to support theusepossible failure ofbicasting for low-loss handoffs, though a low-loss handoff technique is required forthe connectivity with the new network (RN2/nFA) in the short period following handoff, the MN may use the "S" bit in its Mobile IP Registration Request to maintain simultaneous bindings both its existing (HA or GFA) binding with oFA and afully seamless solution. MIPv4 Handoffs Design Teamnew binding with nFA. El Malki (Editor) et. al. [Page37]45] ----