• Ambient Networks
• dynamic network composition
• functional model
• handover management
• handover tools
• heterogeneous networks
• mobility management
• network resource optimization

Abstract—In heterogeneous networks such as new multi-domain and multi-technology mobile networks, handover requests could be driven by other needs such as cost reduction criteria, network resource optimization, service related requirements, etc. Thus, handover could become a critical issue if not done in an optimized way. The main objective is therefore to define concepts and functions with the aim to realize handovers characterized by new multi-dimensions (multi-domain mobile networks, multi-technologies, multi-services, multi-devices, multi-hops, multi-accesses, any-cast, etc). Furthermore it is necessary to be able to support novel requirements that have emerged due to the proliferation of mobile communication services. In the first part of this work are shown conception, definitions, concepts and functions for mobility management, in particular for handover management within "beyond-3G" Ambient Networks scenarios and architecture. Ambient Networks is an integrated project co-sponsored by the European Commission under the Information Society Technology (IST) priority within the 6th Framework Programme (FP6). [http://www.ambient-networks.org]. The two last chapters of this work illustrate implementation of new ideas proposed: in particular are shown dynamic network composition and the handover toolbox, which is very useful in order to construct a handover in an optimized way, based on needs mentioned at the beginning of this abstract.