Performance Analysis of Mobility Procedures in a Hybrid Space Terrestrial IP Environment.

Abstract

The emphasis of this paper is on investigating the performance of signalling protocols designed for a mobility management scheme, which uses Mobile IP for inter-segment mobility in a hybrid space and terrestrial environment. Initially, the system architecture, which consists of three wireless access networks attached to an IP backbone, is presented. This is followed by a description of the proposed mobility procedures employed in the system, which aim at minimising modifications to existing satellite and terrestrial network protocols. The mobility procedures are simulated in order to evaluate their performance and determine their effectiveness in an operational environment. Results verify the efficiency of the protocols and show that the additional signalling time introduced by the procedures is minimal.