A tracking mechanism using agents for personal mobility in IP networks

Abstract

This paper presents our ongoing work in developing an agent architecture to support personal mobility in IP networks. In particular, the paper discusses a tracking mechanism that facilitates location management using agents where both host and user mobility is accorded by the network. Towards this end, a multi-layered agent architecture is proposed and this acts as an overlay providing intelligence in an IP-based network. The agent messaging and collaboration provide the necessary signaling and control mechanism for tracking user movement across multiple domains. This represents a departure from traditional methods of providing mobility services where intelligence is normally restricted to end systems. Ultimately, the role of the collaborative agent architecture is to provide an IP-based network with the ability to exhibit 'intelligent' behaviour i.e. awareness, dynamism and adaptation, in terms of user movement and preferences.