New Authentication Mechanism for Vertical Handovers between IEEE 802.16e and 3G Wireless Networks

This paper proposes a new authentication mechanism for vertical handover between IEEE 802.16e and 3G wireless networks. Firstly, functions of main components in the proposed mechanism are defined newly. Secondly, operation procedures of the proposed mechanism are described for two configuration cases, respectively. According to the proposed mechanism, an inter-base station protocol (IBSP) message can be transmitted between two heterogeneous access networks. Thus, authorization, authentication, accounting (AAA) processes are only performed at an early stage of connecting the MS to the Internet. Therefore, the MS can change its heterogeneous access networks without re-authentication, which can reduce the handover latency of the MS. In addition, the location of the MS can, at any time, be managed by using a single agent server regardless of the MS's current access network, which can make the management of the MS's location easy. Accordingly, the proposed mechanism can provide the ongoing session for service continuity of the MS between two heterogeneous access networks..