Mobile Networking

Wireless access technologies such as GSM, 3G mobile and wireless LAN enable information transfer among a network of disconnected and mobile users. However, to support common Internet and telecommunications applications it is not sufficient to simply have wireless access from a mobile station to a fixed, base station. Networking architectures and protocols must be adapted to cope with the conditions introduced by user mobility. Mobile networking presents key research challenges that must be overcome to achieve the goal of anywhere, anytime communications.

User mobility in communication networks introduces a number of problems, including:

Protocol performance issues due to lost information when a mobile user performs a handover from one access router or base station to a neighbouring one.
Incompatability with typical uses of addressing schemes (e.g. IP addresses, NATs)
Lack of information about the mobile user, especially when moving into foreign networks, e.g. authentication and accounting tasks must eventually be passed back to the users home network
Lack of consistent quality of service control due to moving between networks that offer different levels of service, using different mechanisms.

These problems, especially in relation to Internet protocols, are being addressed by a variety of research, development and standardisation organisations, which has resulted in several mobile networking solutions such as Mobile IP, QoS controlled wireless LANs and mobile data services (e.g. WAP, MMS).

Key Research Challenges

Optimising handovers between different access routers and different access network technologies. This includes:
- Fast handovers with IP mobility protocols (e.g. Mobile IP)
- Using context transfer between access routers
- Identifying and using practical handoff triggers
Performing authentication, authorisation and accounting tasks among different network technologies and different network operators
Maintaining adequate quality of service across hetergenous mobile networks
Supporting network mobility, not just user mobility, e.g. in-vehicle networks
Interconnecting multiple mobile networking technologies such as ad hoc networks and satellite networks