Multiple Interface Management of Multihomed Mobile Hosts in Heterogeneous Wireless Environments

In this paper we present our solution for intelligent network interface selection and (vertical) handover control for heterogeneous multi-access environments. The 4th generation mobile communication system is seen as a combination of several access technologies optimized for different purposes. A combination of these access technologies can constitute, with intelligent control, a 4G access with capabilities to support various application and user requirements and preferences. A policy based vertical handover controller system, called VERHO, utilizes input from several cross-layer sources, the Mobile IPv6 protocol and network interface selection to achieve both proactive and intelligent vertical handovers between a variety of access interfaces. Real-time link status information, access point scanning support, user profiles, policies and Multiple Attribute Decision Making algorithms provide flexibility in interface selection and result in an Always-Best-Connected access for the user. We present the VERHO architecture along with discussing and showing the possible benefits of such system in the future.