Abstract
Converged networks are viewed as a multi-access platform on which fixed and mobile communications can be easily merged into a unified system thus enabling the deployment of rich and personalized services. In this paper, we provide the outcomes of our research into the challenges introduced by terminal mobility in converged networks. This was achieved by carrying out performance based evaluations on various mobile network properties at the access, core and application levels of converged networks and then analysing how they affect the platform individually and as a whole. We also provide the details of our state-of-the-art experimental tests, and analyses that were carried out on emulated converged network test beds, novel architectures, recommendations and extensions which were specifically developed to improve the performance of mobile applications and services in converged networks building on key technologies such as Mobile IPv6, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Networks. ©2009 IEEE.