IP multicast receiver mobility using multi-homing in a multi-beam satellite network

Abstract

There are several merits of mobile communication devices having multiple network interfaces as compared to traditional devices with just one interface. Smart phones these days are a true example of a mobile multi-homed communication device with heterogeneous network interfaces. Several solutions are available for unicast applications to provide seamless handover using the multiple interfaces of a multi-homed device in terrestrial networks. However, very little has been done on similar support for IP multicast mobility support for mobile satellite terminals in a ubiquitous multi-beam satellite network. Most of the schemes proposed for handovers in multi-homed devices place a lot of emphasis on maintaining the multi-homed device identity especially when the second interface joins the communication session. This increases complexity in the whole system. The issue of maintaining the multi-homed device identity plus the additional signalling messages involve are neither necessary nor desired in an IP multicast communication handover in a multi-beam satellite scenario. This paper seeks to exploit the group communication features of IP multicast (i.e., the fact that anyone can join or leave a multicast group at any time and from any location) and the multiple interfaces of a mobile Return Channel Satellite Terminal (RCST) to support IP multicast communication during handover when a mobile multi-homed RCST changes its point of attachment to the network from one satellite gateway to another.