A Group Communication Approach for Mobile Computing

This paper describes the design and implementation of a set of tools, called MobileChannel, for use with the Isis system. A sirnple scheme to support user mobility-switching a control point between replicated seraers-proaides a uniforrn mechanism to handle both client migrations and serl)er failures. The handoff mechanism is simplified by integrating a FIFO channel implementation into the seraer replication mechanism. Our scherne provides a simple abstraction of migration, practically eliminates hand-off protocols, provides fault-tolerance and is implemented within the edsting group communication mechanisms of Isis.