IP services over Bluetooth: leading the way to a new mobility

Abstract

We present protocol concepts for an extension of IP for mobility issues in Bluetooth networks. The protocol is called BLUEPAC IP, where BLUEPAC stands for "BLUEtooth Public ACcess". "Public access" means access to various kinds of information in public areas, e.g. airplane, train, hotel room, department store, museum. Bluetooth will reside in low-cost chips that provide wireless communication up to OSI Layer 2. By the end of this year many mobile devices, e.g. notebooks, PDAs, cell phones, will contain Bluetooth chips as a cable replacement. But Bluetooth is move powerful: with a suitable network protocol that inherits all aspects of IP, it will be possible to provide IP services over Bluetooth. BLUEPAC IP takes IP as a basis and additionally includes functionalities of mobile IP and cellular IP for local IP address assignment, routing issues and handoff support.