IPv6 based relay gateway protocol in hybrid networks

During the past few years, WMAN (Wireless Metropolitan Area Network) and WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) provided fast, convenient and reliable solution for all kinds of users. With the development of the communication technology, the future wireless networks will allow mobile users access Internet anywhere, anytime. Therefore, it is a natural trend to combine different wireless networks to provide a seamless roaming for users. It is feasible for mobile terminal which have multiple modes to handoff between different networks. A relay gateway protocol for the WLAN-mode nodes (mono-mode WLAN nodes and dual-mode nodes) in the hybrid network of IEEE 802.16 WMANs and IEEE 802.11 WLANs is proposed to provide wider mobility. Dual-mode mobile nodes with good service can provide WLAN links to nearby WLAN-mode nodes with bad service or out of the WLAN coverage. Simulation results show that the relay gateway scheme can improve network performance of the hybrid networks. Moreover, the relay gateway method can bring additional service coverage and increase the capacity of WMANs and WLANs.