A middlebox control plane framework for wireless and mobile IP networks

• In wireless and mobile IP networks there is a need to support a set of functions that are related to wireless QoS provisioning, resource optimizations, mobility and security management and operator policy enforcement. These requirements have lead to the frequent usage of so called middleboxes including header/payload compressors, performance enhancement proxies, tunnel endpoints, packet filters and redirectors, QoS schedulers and others. Unfortunately, the increasing usage of these types of devices often leads to undesirable artifacts called feature interactions. In this paper we propose a framework that aims to coordinate the operation of middleboxes such that feature interactions are avoided. The three main ideas are (1) the separation of the control plane from the distributed network nodes, (2) the usage of a middlebox function independent horizontal protocol that allows mobile hosts to communicate their desired service requests to the network and (3) the usage of a vertical protocol between the network control and user planes. We present two examples in which this framework helps eliminate the risk for feature interactions. We comment on the relationship between the end-to-end principle and this framework. Finally, we discuss how future middleboxes can fit into this framework.

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