IEEE 802.11 Inter-WLAN Mobility Control with Broadband Supported Distribution System Integrating WLAN and WAN

The integration of wireless local area networks (WLANs) and the high speed wide area network (WAN) using ‘always on’ broadband access that could provide an efficient and cost effective inter-WLAN mobility management requires the current WLAN internetworking protocol enhanced. The Inter Access Point Protocol (IAPP) defines methods for access point coordination over a distribution system to support WLAN interworking without any central intelligence to support mobility. The implementation of mobility management with any external central control in a distribution system, including broadband such as DSL, is not specified in any WLAN, including 802.11. This paper, first, presents an implementation of a distribution system with broadband DSL accessed central network control for IEEE 802.11 inter-WLAN mobility. Then the modification to the IAPP protocol messaging required for the broadband supported mobility management for inter-WLAN is presented. Preliminary simulation results demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed distribution and its signaling are also provided.