Considerations for name resolution in heterogeneous mobile networks of the future

Abstract

The new generation network or future Internet will be heterogeneous not only in terms of link layer technologies but also in network layer protocols and addressing (or locating) schemes. The ID/locator split concept will be applied to the protocol stack so that heterogeneity of the network layer protocols/locators would be hidden from the transport and application layers. The applications identify communication peer hosts by their hostnames or IDs which are mapped to locators as the packets are pushed down the protocol stack. Hosts obtain hostname-to-ID&locator mapping records from hostname registries. The records are updated as mobile hosts move and acquire different locators. In this paper, we discuss a scheme of hostname formation and present some considerations for registering, retrieving, and updating the mapping records so that mobility is supported well in heterogeneous networks of the future.