A new protocol layer for user space functionality

Evolution of the Internet user has brought attention to the lack of standards for ideal levels of user interaction. The core Internet architecture has not evolved much since its inception, and its user-driven limitations typically constrain one's personal computing infrastructure so that the goals of pervasive and ubiquitous computing are only incipiently achieved. We propose to consider the user's image, or user space, as a significant entity in the Internet model by introducing a new layer of protocols into the Internet protocol stack to support future usage in the Internet. We also present the Identifier/Interlocutor/Locator split architecture for flexible addressing. Standards for such architectures would provide generic user support across heterogeneous networks.