Performance analysis of signalling overhead in Host Identity Protocol-based secure mobile networks: Ultra Flat Architecture or end-to-end signalling?

This paper evaluates the performance overheads of two Host Identity Protocol-based signalling schemes controlling internet protocol connectivity establishment and handover procedures in distributed mobile networks. The paper proves using an analytical model that the Ultra Flat Architecture has significant performance gains on user side, in the access networks and at the rendezvous service over the terminal-based architecture due to the application of delegation of signalling rights. On the other hand, the former architecture results in greater overhead in the transport network connecting the gateways and at the gateways. The results also provide guidance on the optimal setting of protocol lifetime parameters, maximum delegation authorization certificate chain length and distribution level of gateways in both schemes.