A network-layer mobility management framework for the convergence of heterogeneous wireless networks

The 3G and beyond wireless communication system will be the integration of many kinds of heterogeneous wireless access networks. These wireless access networks have different layer 2 technologies, so it is very difficult to implement mobility management on link layer in the 3G and beyond system. But the mobility management can be realized on network layer (i.e. IP layer). In this paper the definition of NMM (Network-Layer Mobility Management) is given firstly. Then the framework of NMM for the convergence of the heterogeneous wireless networks is presented, and its structure and function model are given. Also the key technologies used in NMM are introduced. At last a test system for NMM is described.