Mobile agent systems

The mobile agent paradigm has received considerable attention in recent years for its wide applications in various areas of computing technology. This has led to the development of several commercial, as well as research oriented mobile agent systems. Recently, mobile agent technology is being employed for providing mobility support in networking and telecommunication environments. This article outlines various uses and types of mobile agents, along with their benefits, and limitations. The authors provide an insight into the application of mobile agents to support mobility management, focusing on ongoing research and recent research development efforts. Potential challenges associated with using mobile agents for mobility purposes are also discussed.