Communications
Abstract Mobile IP has been designed within the IETF to serve the needs of the burgeoning population of mobile computer users who wish to connect t o the Internet and maintain communications as they move from place to place. The basic protocol is described, with details given on the three major component protocols: Agent Advertisement, Registration, and Tunneling. Then route optimization procedures are outlined, and further topics of current interest are described.
Charles E. Perkins, Sun Microsystems
ecent years have seen an explosive growth both in the number of laptop and notebook computers sold, and in the number of nodes connected to the Internet and the World Wide Web. The notebook computers are themselves ever more powerful, equal in processing capability to many systems sold as desktop workstations. I n fact, the future growth of the Internet is likely to be fueled in large part by these very notebook computers, since they account for the part of the computer market that is growing fastest. Along with these trends, we also see the steady growth of the market for wireless communications devices. Such devices can only have the effect of increasing the options for making connections to the global Internet. Mobile customers can find a wide array of such wireless devices available. There are numerous varieties of radio attachments and infrared devices; of course, communications by way of the cellular telephone network is always an option for those willing to pay the fees.
covery mechanisms of mobile IP are described in detail. Following that, the mechanisms are described by which a mobile computer is located. Next, the available tunneling mechanisms are shown, which the home agent uses to forward datagrams from the home network to the mobile computer. Having covered the details of the base mobile IP specification, we then describe further protocol messages which help to decrease the inefficiency associated with inserting the home agent in the routing
Charles E. Perkins, Sun Microsystems
ecent years have seen an explosive growth both in the number of laptop and notebook computers sold, and in the number of nodes connected to the Internet and the World Wide Web. The notebook computers are themselves ever more powerful, equal in processing capability to many systems sold as desktop workstations. I n fact, the future growth of the Internet is likely to be fueled in large part by these very notebook computers, since they account for the part of the computer market that is growing fastest. Along with these trends, we also see the steady growth of the market for wireless communications devices. Such devices can only have the effect of increasing the options for making connections to the global Internet. Mobile customers can find a wide array of such wireless devices available. There are numerous varieties of radio attachments and infrared devices; of course, communications by way of the cellular telephone network is always an option for those willing to pay the fees.
covery mechanisms of mobile IP are described in detail. Following that, the mechanisms are described by which a mobile computer is located. Next, the available tunneling mechanisms are shown, which the home agent uses to forward datagrams from the home network to the mobile computer. Having covered the details of the base mobile IP specification, we then describe further protocol messages which help to decrease the inefficiency associated with inserting the home agent in the routing