An Evaluation of the Ambient Networks Gateway Selection Architecture

We study the performance of the gateway selection architecture (GSA), developed within the framework of the EU ambient networks integrated project, which provides support for gateway discovery, management, and selection for mobile nodes within dynamic routing groups. A routing group (RG) is a cluster of nodes in physical proximity, aware of the group membership, especially in the context of the Ambient Networks architecture, with a common goal of optimizing mobility management and routing functionality in the group. We present two examples on how GSA can be introduced using existing protocols, namely MIP and HIP. Our simulation studies show the benefits gained from group formation when compared to same functionalities implemented in every individual node, and compare the GSA optimized signaling strategy with other competitive approaches.