Managing mobility of users in a virtual network

Terminal and personal mobility are the fundamental characteristics of Nomad ic Computing. However, personal mobility provides a greater degree of flexi bility, creating an environment in which a user roams in network without a wireless laptop or a mobile phone and yet enjoys anytime, anywhere network accessibility. This work presents Nomad's Personal Access System (NPAS): a software system at OSI application layer that provides a personal mobility environment within a virtual, private network, spanning different organizat ional networks. It implements dynamic association between a user and shared devices associated with a new location. The dynamic mapping of users to de vices is achieved using Internet's LDAP distributed directory. The LDAP's d istributed directory provides services and location data to the network-thu s incoming and outgoing messages can be easily routed to the current locati on of a nomad. The ability to know the current location of a nomad increase s his/her accessibility to and from other people. Therefore, NPAS also addr esses the messaging services and suggests a solution based on agents. This work is motivated by the larger project of the Mobile Agents Alliance, a co llaborative effort that includes the National Research Council of Canada, t he University of Ottawa, and Mitel Corporation.