This report reflects the authors' broad consensus with respect to research in wireless and mobile communications and networking. The report is the direct result of presentations and discussions that took place during the NSF Workshop on Wireless and Mobile Communications, held March 24-26, 1997 at the Airlie House in Warrenton, Virginia. The participants at the workshop embraced several different disciplines and points of view, numbering 31 experts in wireless and mobile communications and networking. The report and its recommendations are expected to provide to investigators and funding organizations input and suggestions for productive areas of research in the field.

Three major currents emerged from the workshop and are taken up in this report. First, participants identified specific, high-priority topics that require the attention of researchers. These priorities are grouped into nines different categories and are discussed at length in Chapter 4. Second, the workshop participants acknowledged the desirability of providing themes for research that would serve to promote system-wide, croscutting activities in the field by giving investigators a context for multidisciplinary research. These themes consist of eight attributes that have special roles in the design of wireless and mobile systems. Furthermore, the themes permeate all layers of system design and provide a contextual basis for crosscutting research. Third, four focused research initiatives were suggested, having clearly defined objectives and deliverables. These initiatives would demonstrate advanced concepts in wireless and mobile communications and networking technology and would provide critical components and software for use in experimental research in the area.