Patent ID: 6973506

Claim:
A position identifier management apparatus for supporting the movement of a mobile computer between networks, comprising: storage means for storing binding information concerning said mobile computer managed by said position identifier management apparatus, said binding information including a compatible node identifier for uniquely specifying said mobile computer and a compatible position identifier for uniquely specifying a position of said mobile computer on a network; registration means for registering the binding information in said storage means in response to a registration request to register the binding information from another position identifier management apparatus; and transmitting means for transmitting the binding information in response to a query about the binding information concerning said mobile computer from another position identifier management apparatus when said binding information is stored in said storage means; wherein the compatible node identifier of said mobile computer comprises a first virtual network identifier assigned to said mobile computer which moves between networks and a node identifier for uniquely specifying said mobile computer, and the compatible position identifier of said mobile computer comprises a second network identifier which is usable only by mobile computers assigned to a network to which said mobile computer is connected and the node identifier.