Empowering next-generation wireless personal communication networks

Next-generation wireless systems should provide to the user access to a broad range of services in a transparent way, independent of user location by making the technology invisible and embedded in the natural surroundings. Reaching this goal requires efficient cooperation between heterogeneous networking technologies and different protocols. Wireless personal networks are an integral part of such an emerging heterogeneous infrastructure. It is highly desirable, and in fact required due to economical constraints, to incorporate the present wireless systems in building the new paradigm. The key "protocol glue" between systems is the use of IP. Based on this scenario, we describe an architecture suited for the present and future personal mobile communications networks and services.