MN Mobile Node

MN, or Mobile Node, refers to a device that can change its point of attachment to the internet, such as a smartphone or laptop, while maintaining its ongoing communications session. This means that a Mobile Node can move from one network to another without interrupting its ongoing communication session, as long as there is a wireless network available to connect to.

A Mobile Node has an IP address that identifies it on the internet, just like any other device. However, unlike other devices, a Mobile Node's IP address changes as it moves from one network to another. This is because each network has its own IP address range, and the Mobile Node must use an IP address within that range to communicate with other devices on the network.

To maintain its ongoing communication session while moving between networks, a Mobile Node uses a protocol called Mobile IP. Mobile IP allows the Mobile Node to inform the internet of its new IP address each time it moves to a new network. This way, other devices on the internet can still communicate with the Mobile Node using its new IP address, without any interruption in the communication session.

Mobile IP works by creating a virtual IP address, called a care-of address, for the Mobile Node on the network it is currently connected to. The care-of address is used to forward packets to the Mobile Node while it is away from its home network. The home network is the network where the Mobile Node is registered, and it has a permanent IP address that identifies the Mobile Node.

When the Mobile Node moves to a new network, it sends a message to its home network, informing it of its new care-of address. The home network then forwards this information to other devices on the internet that are communicating with the Mobile Node. These devices can then send packets to the Mobile Node using its new care-of address, and the packets will be forwarded to the Mobile Node by the network it is currently connected to.

Mobile IP also includes security measures to protect the Mobile Node from attacks while it is moving between networks. For example, Mobile IP can use authentication to ensure that only authorized devices can communicate with the Mobile Node. Mobile IP also supports encryption to protect the contents of the communication session from eavesdropping.

In addition to Mobile IP, there are other protocols and technologies that enable Mobile Nodes to maintain their ongoing communication sessions while moving between networks. For example, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has developed a protocol called Proxy Mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6), which allows a Mobile Node to maintain its ongoing communication session without the need for the Mobile Node to actively participate in the handover process.

PMIPv6 works by using a Mobility Access Gateway (MAG), which acts as a proxy for the Mobile Node on the network it is currently connected to. The MAG maintains a binding between the Mobile Node's home address and its care-of address, and forwards packets between the two addresses as needed. When the Mobile Node moves to a new network, the MAG communicates with the Mobile Node's home network to update the binding, without requiring any active participation from the Mobile Node.

There are also other technologies that can be used to enable Mobile Nodes to maintain their ongoing communication sessions while moving between networks. For example, virtual private networks (VPNs) can be used to create a secure tunnel between the Mobile Node and its home network, allowing the Mobile Node to maintain its ongoing communication session while moving between networks.

Overall, Mobile Nodes are a crucial part of modern mobile computing, allowing users to stay connected to the internet while on the move. By using protocols like Mobile IP and technologies like PMIPv6 and VPNs, Mobile Nodes can maintain their ongoing communication sessions while moving between networks, without any interruption in service.