Generic identifiers for ID/locator split internetworking

Abstract

We have developed an identifier/locator split network architecture that uses separate sets of entities for identifiers and locators in order to eliminate certain problems that will arise if conventional Internet architecture, which uses Internet Protocol addresses as both node identifiers and locators, is used in the new generation network, which will have a very large number of heterogeneous devices. If conventional architecture is used, there will be particular problems in several areas, including mobility and multihoming management, security and privacy, scalable routing, and traffic engineering. In our architecture, identifiers are used in the application and transport layers for identifying nodes, and locators are used in the network layer for locating nodes in the network topology. Nodes can change locators at any time without disrupting ongoing communication sessions, thus supporting efficient mobility and multihoming. The identifiers, which are independent of internetworking technology, are compatible with existing and future locators and routing systems.