SCTP multihoming support for handoffs across heterogeneous networks

Abstract

Next-generation mobile terminals are expected to provide users with seamless, uninterrupted network connectivity while moving across wide geographic locations. Achieving continuous network access is made possible by exploiting multihoming in mobile nodes and providing support for several heterogeneous network interfaces. Efficient mechanisms are required to enable mobile nodes to connect to various available networks to improve connectivity and provide network resilience. Stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) has been proposed as a potential candidate for facilitating multiple network support to achieve smooth session continuity while moving across different types of networks. This paper analyses the design and performance of proposed SCTP implementations for multihoming purposes. We present an empirical evaluation of SCTP while performing handoffs by conducting experiments in a real multi-network environment. We also identify the benefits and limitations of user and kernel-level implementations of SCTP