A general purpose proxy filtering mechanism applied to the mobile environment
Bruce Zenel, Dan Duchamp · 1997
Our proxyIn recent years, proxies have become more prevalent.Generally, these systems are used to process data tlowing between two endpoints using an intermediary.More specifically, they can be used to filter or process traffic flowing to and from a network-limited host.Benefits include more efficient use of network resources, reduced cost, and increased security.In this paper, we describe the design and capabilities of such a system, how it has been applied to the mobile environment, and provide an evaluation of the work.The environment for which our work is intended is shown in figure 1.In this figure a pair of mobile hosts are communicating with a number of fixed hosts.To simplify the discussion, we assume that an application (or "client") runs on the mobile host and communicates with a server on a fixed host, but the proxy mechanism can work with any two communicating endpoints located anywhere, including two mobile hosts.In our model of the environment, we assume the "last link" to the mobile host is the likely problem area.Currently and in the foreseeable future, this link will typically be slower, more costly, less reliable, and perhaps less secure than typical WANs or LANs.Accordingly, a proxy is placed somewhere on the opposite side of this link from the mobile host, and the two work together to overcome or attenuate the link's limitations.The proxy need not be physically attached to this last link."lids work was performed at Columbia University.