Network-controlled mobility within radio access networks based on <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">WLAN </Emphasis> technologies

This article presents a network-controlled approach of user terminal mobility within an m based Wireless LANAccess Network. bz a first part, this article makes a review of the mobility support, on the subject of emerging W~N technologies as HIPEICLaN/2 and IEEE 802.11, on the one hand, and, regarding m networks as currently studied within tETF, on the other hand. Both types of lP mobility protocols are presented, either global mobility protocols such as Mobile Ip, or local mobility management protocols (micro mobility). In the next part, the overall principles of our mobili~ management approach are explained; this approach is based on the implementation of a new network entity dedicated to the control of user terminal mobility. The last part details a practical implementation of this approach. The implementation is carried out on the basis of Hierarchical Mobile IPV6 (HMIPV6). The experimental results confirm the importance to carefully plan and control the user terminal mobility within large tt' based Access Networks, as this brings benefit to the user as well as to the operator.