Mobile networking method and apparatus

An apparatus for providing automatic addressing and roaming across an internetwork, the apparatus comprising:

• a first primary network;
• a router connectable to the first primary network;
• at least one second primary network operably connectable at a first location to the router to extend away from the first primary network;
• at least one second router connectable to a second location on the second primary network, the second location being spaced away from the first location and spaced away from the first primary network;
• a third primary network operably connected to a second router of the at least one second router to be extendible away from the second router and from a second network of the at least one second primary network;
• a mobile node connectable to the first primary network to transmit and receive data, and to automatically provide a local address uniquely associated with the mobile node and the first primary network;
• and
• a home router operably connected to the internetwork to provide a virtual network address uniquely corresponding to the mobile node to forward to the mobile node at the local address incoming data directed to the virtual address, and to provide continuous session level connectivity of the mobile node to the internetwork during roaming of the mobile node.

A method for addressing a node connected to an internetwork comprising:

• connecting a node to a network in the internetwork in a session;
• acquiring a network number associated with the network;
• acquiring a number associated with the node;
• creating a local address uniquely associated with the node in the network;
• logging the node in to a home router connected to the internetwork;
• providing to the home router the local address;
• providing from the home router to the node a virtual address;
• binding the local address to the virtual address in a memory device of the home router;
• providing to another node connected to the internetwork the virtual address corresponding to the node;
• forwarding to the local address packets directed to the virtual address during the session;
• disconnecting the node from the network, and connecting the node to a new network in the internetwork, while maintaining session level connectivity of the node.