APPENDIX E " OWL/IP
Additionally, IP frames are only forwarded inbound if the IP address belongs to the home subnet (see “Subnet Filtering,” page
Station Mobility
As stations move through a facility, they roam between access point coverage areas. In large installations, these access points may be on different IP subnets. OWL/IP is designed to support rapid roaming in these environments. A “roam” requires updates to the forwarding databases in the new access point, super root, previous access point, and any intermediate designated bridges.
A roam is initiated when a station attaches to a new access point. This access point sends an attach message to the super root, which in turn forwards a detach message to the previous access point, allowing each access point to update its forwarding database. Designated bridges monitor these exchanges and update their forwarding databases.
Mobile IP Comparison
The Internet Engineering Task Force has developed RFC 2002, IP Mobility Support, commonly referred to as Mobile IP. Mobile IP is designed primarily to address the needs of IP stations that may move between geographically separated locations.
OWL/IP is designed primarily to operate in local area environments, where handcarried or vehicle mounted stations may move rapidly between access point coverage areas on a subnetted LAN. The two technologies are complimentary and may coexist. Table
