This project aims to design and prototype a novel mobile anycast protocol (MAP) for mobile communications. Specifically, the researchers will:

1. design anycast group routing and connection algorithms for mobility agents to provide efficient registration, connection and smooth handoff for mobile nodes;
2. use hierarchical tree techniques to set up the multicast routing algorithms for a group of mobile users and nodes by taking advantage of anycast routing in providing short delay and efficient and reliable packet forwarding to mobile nodes in a multicast group;
3. investigate mobile multicast communication in relation to an anycast agent group;
4. analyze the theoretical features and characteristics of a spectrum of anycasts for mobile nodes; and
5. prototype MAP into an experimental system and investigate the fitness of the protocol for wireless applications such as remote control, mobile information distribution and e-commerce.