Apparatus and method for dynamic host configuration protocol version 6 extensions for configuring hosts with multiple interfaces

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

receive a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request message from a multi-homed host, wherein the DHCP request message comprises a first multi-homed routing policy entry (MHRPE) option that specifies characteristics of the multi-homed host;

select default route information corresponding to the characteristics specified in the first MHRPE option; and

transmit a DHCP reply message comprising a second MHRPE option comprising the default route information for updating a routing/policy table on the multi-homed host.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first MHRPE option comprises a plurality of first sub-options and a preferred lifetime.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first sub-options comprise an interface information sub-option for each interface on a mobile node, and wherein the interface information sub-option comprises a link layer address and an access technology type.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second MHRPE option comprises a plurality of second sub-options and a valid lifetime.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second sub-options comprise a flow description sub-option comprising a flow description type and a flow description.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second sub-options further comprise a quality of service (QoS) sub-option corresponding to the flow description and one of the interfaces on the mobile node.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second sub-options further comprise a flow route prefix sub-option comprising a interne protocol version 6 (IPv6) prefix corresponding to a flow description.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second sub-options further comprise an IPv6 router address sub-option comprising a default router address corresponding to the flow description.

9. A method comprising:

receiving a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request message from a multi-homed host, wherein the DHCP request message comprises a first multi-homed routing policy entry (MHRPE) option comprising an indication of a quantity of interfaces and type of interfaces on the multi-homed host;

selecting default route information corresponding to interface information specified in the MHRPE option received from the multi-homed host; and

transmitting a DHCP reply message comprising a second MHRPE option comprising the default route information, wherein the multi-homed host selects a default route information for itself based upon the second MHRPE option received in the DHCP reply message.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second MHRPE option comprises a flow description sub-option that comprises a flow-type and a preferred interface.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second MHRPE option comprises a flow route prefix sub-option that corresponds to the flow description sub-option.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second MHRPE option comprises internet protocol version six (IPv6) router address sub-option that comprises a default router address.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising identifying a route based upon the combination of the flow route prefix sub-option and the IPv6 router address sub-option.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the DHCP request message comprises a first option request option comprising the first MHRPE option, and wherein the DHCP reply message comprises a second option request option comprising the second MHRPE option.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a DHCP solicit message from the multi-homed host, wherein the DHCP request message comprises a third option request option comprising a third MHRPE option; and

transmitting a DHCP advertise message comprising a fourth option request option comprising a fourth MHRPE option.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces configured to:

transmit a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) request message comprising information identifying the plurality of interfaces; and

receive a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) reply message, in response to the DHCP request message, comprising routing information for the plurality of interfaces;

a memory store comprising a default routing/policy table; and

a processor configured to:

update the routing/policy table based upon the routing information; and

select one of the plurality of interfaces for transmission based upon the updated routing/policy table.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of interfaces comprises at least two of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 interface, a high speed packet access (HSPA) interface, a long term evolution (LTE) interface, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WIMAX) interface, and a BLUETOOTH interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the DHCP reply message is received responsive to connecting to a network.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the network does not support mobile internet protocol (MIP ) or proxy mobile IP (PMIP).