System issues in mobile computing

TL;DR: Each of these issues in detail is discussed in detail, speciically with regard to how they will aaect user applications and how they can be addressed by systems research.

Abstract: The decreasing size of computer components and the increasing availability of wireless communication technology make possible ubiquitous mobile computing: access from anywhere , at any time, to computer networks and the rich set of services attached to them. Mobile computers provide a powerful interface to services that allow a mobile user to access diverse sources of information, exchange electronic messages, interact with other users in real time, and utilize remote computing resources. Previous advances in distributed systems provide a base for such applications, but realizing the full potential of mobile computing requires solutions to new problems. Achieving mobility requires trading performance for weight and power. The hardware weighs less, but is less powerful. To achieve high-performance, mobile computers must utilize wireless networks to access the resources of more powerful but less mobile computers. In addition, moving a computer implies the need for reconnguration at diierent levels of the system. Crossing physical boundaries such as those between buildings requires network reconnguration to provide uninterrupted network access. Crossing administrative boundaries such as those between two divisions of a corporation requires application reconnguration to allow applications to access local services and to cope with security concerns. Realizing the maximum user beneet from mobile computers demands that the system deal with all the above issues. This paper discusses each of these issues in detail, speciically with regard to how they will aaect user applications and how they can be addressed by systems research.