Network segment mobility in ATM networks

This article describes the extension of the ATM PNNI v.1 protocol to support the mobility of ATM network segments, consisting of one or more ATM switches, relative to a fixed ATM infrastructure. An application scenario involving an ATM network onboard an aircraft in flight that maintains ATM connectivity via satellite with the ground network is adopted for illustrative purposes. While both routing and handover are key elements necessary to provide mobility, the current work addresses only the former. The article concludes with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of the proposed approach