Network architectures for packet classification in wireless mobile network

In IEEE 802.16e, one of mechanisms for service differentiation over the air interface relies on packet classification in mobile subscriber station (MSS) and access point (AP). Classification involves matching multiple packet header fields against a possibly large set of classifier rules identifying the different service classes. In the Internet router, two important properties of classification are fast lookup time and low memory consumption. In wireless mobile network, there are frequent dynamic updates of classifier rules whenever MSS move among cells. Fast handoffs demand fast update time. Frequent updates between MSS and AP degrade efficiency of network resources and performance of classification. This paper considers distributed and centralized network architectures for classification. analyzes the signaling loads for updates of classifier rules during handoffs; and classification performance of them. We show that distributed architecture has better classification performance but generates more signaling load. This paper concludes that for fast handoffs it needs tradeoff between classification performance and efficiency of net-work resources.