Method for dynamically locating a wireless TCP proxy in a wired/wireless integrated network

1. A method for dynamically locating a wireless TCP proxy suitable for a host among a of wireless TCP proxies existing in a routing path in a wired/wireless integrated network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting a proxy change request packet from a proxy controlling the mobile host to a first higher-level proxy if a mobility of the mobile host is larger than a mobility threshold that is preset in the proxy;

(b) determining whether the mobility of the mobile host is larger than a mobility threshold that is preset in the first higher-level proxy;

(c) transmitting a proxy change request packet from the first higher-level proxy to a second higher-level proxy if the mobility of the mobile host is larger than the mobility threshold of the first higher-level proxy; and

(d) permitting selectively the proxy to be changed to another proxy if the mobility of the mobile host is smaller than the mobility threshold of the first higher-level proxy or the second higher-level proxy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (a) comprises the steps of:

determining whether the mobility of the mobile host is larger than the mobility threshold that is preset in the proxy;

determining whether a wireless TCP used in the wired/wireless integrated network supports a bi-directional tunneling if the mobility of the mobile host is larger than the mobility threshold which is preset in the proxy; and

determining whether the first higher-level proxy exists in the integrated network if the wireless TCP supports the bi-directional tunneling.

3. A method for dynamically locating a wireless TCP proxy suitable for a mobile host among a plurality of wireless TCP proxies existing in a routing path in a wired/wireless integrated network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a1) executing a proxy function of a first proxy for data packets that are transmitted the mobile host if the proxy function is activated;

(a2) in response to a proxy activation request from other proxies, determining whether to activate the proxy function or to transfer the proxy activation request to a higher-level proxy;

(a3) in response to a proxy change request from other proxies, determining whether to activate the proxy function based on a measured mobility or to transfer the proxy change request to the higher-level proxy;

(b) measuring a mobility of the mobile host at a point of time when the mobile host moves outside a network; and

(c) changing the first proxy for the mobile host into a second proxy located at an optimal position in the wired/wireless integrated network, based on the measured mobility of the mobile host.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step (b) comprises the steps of:

(b1) measuring the mobility of the mobile host;

(b2) comparing the measured mobility of the mobile host with a preset threshold; and

(b3) transmitting a proxy change request to a higher-level proxy if the measured mobility of the mobile host is larger than the preset threshold.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the mobility is determined by using a reciprocal of a resident time of the mobile host in the network, the resident time being calculated by deducting a point of time when the mobile host moves into the network from a point of time when the mobile host moves outside the network.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step (c) comprises the steps of:

(c1) transmitting a proxy change request packet from the second proxy to the first proxy if the second proxy senses the movement of the mobile host into a network where the second proxy resides; and

(c2) activating the proxy function of the second proxy if the first proxy approves the proxy change request packet from the second proxy.