Patent ID: 7437479

Claim:
A position identifier management method for supporting movement of a mobile computer between networks, comprising: storing binding information concerning said mobile computer managed by a position identifier management apparatus in a storage means of the 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; registering the binding information in said storage means in response to a registration request to register the binding information; and transmitting the binding information in response to a query about the binding information concerning said mobile computer 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.