A Framework for Mobile Applications

1. Application Program Application Manager Middleware Resource Manager Mobility Manager Network Manager Vendor Platform Hardware Resource A Framework for Mobile Applications Sangwhan Cha Supervisors : Dr. Weichang Du Dr. Bernd J. Kurz Introduction Mobile application developers and content providers usually need to develop mobile applications with concerns for mobility for specific wireless networks and device platforms which are used by network carriers. In order to provide standard mobile applications with interoperability and mobility support, we propose a comprehensive mobile application framework to support interoperability and mobility of mobile application development and operation. Such framework supports developing mobile device applications, mobile server applications, as well as mobile client-server communications and peer-to-peer communications Client Architecture • Application Manager : installation, deletion, and execution of applications • runtime Environment, basic APIs and Components • Resource Manager : limited device resources and capabilities • device-related APIs and components • Mobility Manager : location awareness location-related APIs and mobility-related APIs • Network Manager : wireless connectivity network-related APIs Runtime Environment Hardware Abstraction Layer Research Problem Interoperability ? :The ability of applications to be executable across diverse mobile platforms Mobility? :The ability of applications to be seamlessly accessibleacross heterogeneous networks and devices “No known framework for supporting mobile applications with both interoperability and mobility” Server Platform Functionality of server platform • Context handling Network manager : Network context handling Resource manager : Device context handling Resource Manager Mobility Manager Network Manager • Content adaptation Application manager Application Manager • Automatic service selection Architecture Overview Mobility manager • Provision of services based on contextual information Application and content provider in Application manager Developing Environment Sever Future Work Resource Manager Mobility Manager Network Manager • Developing Middleware for Devices • The test bed for the prototype of the unified- • middleware platform • Evaluation points: • Interoperability: • Runtime environment • Hardware Abstraction Layer • Mobility structured platform Resource Editor IDE Application Manager • Developing the Developing Environment • The test bed for the prototype of the unified developing environment • Evaluation points: • Supporting multi programming languages (C & Java) • Supporting mobility specified APIs • General evaluation points: • Delay of the service provision for each specific network and device • Delay of the service provision when vertical handoff occurs Apps source code Compiler • Developing the Server Platform • The test bed for the prototype of the server platform • Evaluation points: • Context handling • Automatic service selection • Provision of services based on contextual information • Multimedia content handling while the user is moving Application Client’sdevice Application Manager Application Manager Resource Manager Mobility Manager Network Manager Resource Manager Mobility Manager Network Manager Emulator Vendor Platform • Reference • For more information, Refer to the paper : S. Cha, B. Kurz, and W. Du, “Toward a unified middleware for mobile applications” in Communication Networks and Research Conference (CNSR 2009) IEEE, Accepted. Hardware Resource Windows on PC Communication Networks and Services Research (CNSR) This research is supported and funded through CNSR by Bell / Aliant and ACOA by an AIF research contract.