Mobile-IP, ad-hoc networking, and nomadicity

Abstract

Continuing advances in wireless communications and feature integration into laptop computers are creating the need to allow nomadic users to make network connections to the Internet and with each other with no loss of functionality. This requires new advances in routing protocols and application interfaces. We use mobile-IP as the basis for providing mobility for nomadic users, and extend it to facilitate additional services for nomadic users both at the network layer and above. As an example of how mobile-IP can be useful with other protocols at the network layer, we show how mobile-IP can naturally extend the usefulness of ad-hoc networking. For higher level protocols, we show that, by offering a callback service, mobile-IP can enable applications to be responsive to changing network conditions. As an example of this technique, we show how service location can benefit from interaction with mobile-IP. We also mention some other nomadic services which will similarly benefit from a callback service from mobile-IP.