Virtual and unified address assignment for continuous communication in mobile networks

Mobile devices connections to heterogeneous networks require the management of the network interfaces, as well as addressing service for each access network. However, the frequent association and dissociation of devices to the network and several communications patterns hamper the address control and negotiation. In general, addressing strategies for heterogeneous wireless networks are individualized and do not adapt fast enough to several address patterns from each communication technology, hindering the seamless handoffs. This paper presents an innovative dynamic address scheme for heterogeneous wireless networks founded on Network Function Virtualization (NFV) approach aiming to support the avoidance of interruptions in end-to-end communications and providing seamless handoffs. It is described a method for the unification of the network address formats on mobile devices and for the negotiation of dynamic addresses in order to offer continuous communication. The proposed method has been evaluated by simulations, taking into account WiFi and WiMAX communication technologies. Simulation results show the strategy effectiveness and the maintenance of the end-to-end communication under handoff scenarios.