scope:

As heterogeneous access technologies have been developed, network nodes have been given the ability to simultaneously connect multiple access networks to support reliability, load sharing and mobility. These simultaneous multiple connections are established through multiple accesses to next generation networks (NGNs) using multiple access technologies, multiple network interfaces, multiple Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) addresses and multiple transport sessions.

To provide efficient simultaneous multiple connections, it is required to consider the impact from/on multiple access technologies, multiple network interfaces and multiple transport sessions. This Recommendation defines vertical multihoming as multihoming based on the characteristics of simultaneous multiple connections of several layers, which are managed vertically across several layers. This Recommendation describes a framework of vertical multihoming in IPv6-based NGN.

This Recommendation describes or defines:

- vertical multihoming;

- requirements of vertical multihoming;

- methods of vertical multihoming;

- functional architecture of vertical multihoming;

- applications of vertical multihoming.