MobiCast: a multicast scheme for wireless networks

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a multicast scheme known as MobiCast that is suitable for mobile hosts in an internetwork environment with small wireless cells. Our scheme adopts a hierarchical mobility management approach to isolate the mobility of the mobile hosts from the main multicast delivery tree. Each foreign domain has a domain foreign agent. We have simulated our scheme using the Network Simulator and the measurements show that our multicast scheme is effective in minimizing disruptions to a multicast session due to the handoffs of the mobile group member, as well as reducing packet loss when a mobile host crosses cell boundaries during a multicast session.