Adapting to new environments: rethinking the TCP/IP Stack
Date
2003
Authors
Pope, C.
Detmold, H.
Munro, D.
Vaughan, F.
Editors
Langendoerfer, P.
Droegehorn, O.
Droegehorn, O.
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Proceedings of the International Conference on Internet Computing, IC '03, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, June 23-26, 2003, Volume 2
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
International Conference on Internet Computing (2003 : Las Vegas, Nevada)
Abstract
Existing TCP/IP protocol stacks contain many assumptions about the underlying network that are embedded as control policies within the stack. This fact creates problems when the TCP/IP suite is used in non-traditional network environments, such as mobile networks. Attempts to adapt existing TCP/IP stacks to suit mobile networking are typically partial solutions limited to addressing one specific issue. In this paper, we argue that a holistic approach to supporting the needs of new networking environments is only feasible given a rigorous separation of policy from mechanism, a separation that current stack implementations lack. We introduce a modified stack model, the "Embedded Inverted Stack", which is an instantiation of the generic Compliant Systems Architecture [1]. This provides a general framework within which a stack implementation can comply with the particular needs of different networking environments whilst maintaining complete compatibility with existing TCP/IP applications. We focus particularly on how such an architecture can support mobile networking.