MPA: A Network-Centric Architecture for Micro-Mobility Support in IP and MPLS Networks

Micro-mobility protocols aim to improve localized mobility by reducing the handover overheads. In this paper we present the Mobility Plane Architecture (MPA). This architecture was designed to support micro-mobility in standard IP or MPLS/GMPLS networks in a network-centric way, that is, the burden demanded by micro-mobility is placed on the network, not on the mobile nodes. The main advantages of this architecture are its independence of IPv6 and the absence of new protocols for supporting L3 mobility.