A systematic classification of distributed IP mobility

Abstract

With the diverse needs of mobility support with different mobility behaviors and the different approaches to mobility in future Wireless, different mobility management mechanisms at the IP layer are needed. Different mobility architectures are presented in terms of the component mobility functions of location information database functions, forwarding management functions, and identifier for session continuity. Different IP mobility mechanisms are then systematically categorized in terms of these basic functions and architectures in networks with or without separation of data and control plane or virtualization of network functions. They provide the IP layer building blocks for the diverse mobility management mechanisms needed in future cellular network designs in 5G wireless and beyond.