Currently, the dual use of IPv4 and IPv6 is becoming a problem. In particular, Network Address Translation (NAT) is an important issue to be solved because of traversal problems in end-to-end applications for lots of mobile IoT devices connected to different private networks. The vertical model is typically used to solve NAT, mobility and security issues for them. However, the existing vertical model has limitations because it handles NAT, mobility and security management one by one. This paper proposes a Blockchain-based Integrated Network Function Management (BINFM) scheme where the NAT, mobility, and security management are handled at once. The proposed scheme is advantageous in that by using blockchain and the Query/Reply mechanism, each peer can easily obtain the necessary parameters required to handle the NAT, mobility, and security management in a batch. In addition, this paper explains how our proposed scheme guarantees secure end-to-end data transfers with the use of one time session key. Finally, it is proved that the proposed scheme improves performance on latency from the viewpoints of mobility and security compared to the existing vertical model.
Keywords: NAT management; blockchain-based management; integrated management; security management; smart mobility.