Investigation into developing stand-alone Location Based services (LBS)Nkululeko GojelaSupervisor: Dr Hannah Thinyane

Background

services that integrate a mobile devices location or position with other information so as to provide added value to the userSchiller and Viosard

BackgroundTypes of Location Based ServicesType 1Those that are dependent on an aggregation infrastructure (Central server with application logic)Type 2Those that are independent of an aggregation infrastructure (Standalone)Getting location information:GPS basedNetwork Based (Cell operator)Hybrid (Combination of 1 & 2)

Purpose of ProjectTo investigate the development of LBS:Do not requirement aggregation infrastructure.Possible methods for developing the servicesWhich method offers:Maximum portabilityWith maximum location accuracyHow does the portability and location information accuracy divide the types of LBS that can be developed.

Development ApproachTwo approaches:J2ME : Applications on installed on device.Why?Java is designed for platform independenceJ2ME Location API - gives applications the opportunity to use a device's location capabilitiesIn Location API the Location Provider supplies information about the location of the devices based on criteria given.Criteria include accuracy, response time.

Development ApproachJava Card Techonology : Applications running on smart cards.Why?Java is designed for platform independenceAllows for applets written in Java to be execute on smart cards.Offers portability because the applets are not/less dependent on device platform.But memory restrictions affect what you can or cannot do on the card.Also enable acquiring of location information from sim/smart card applet level.Provide JCVM, RE and Java Card API for developing Card applets.

Investigation ApproachInvestigation approach is to develop LBS using both methods.LBS will allow use to view location informationSet landmark on the applicationEvents triggered whenever currently location information matches the landmarks.Evaluate the outcomes of the How does location information affect the type of service (accuracy)

ProgressUnderstanding the development environmentsJ2ME + Support for LBSJava Card Technology and Gemalto Developer Suite.Examining the technologies support for LBS

ToolsJ2ME Platform SDKGemalto Developer Suite and SimulatorMutiple mobile device platforms Symbian OS, Andriod, iPhone OS, possibly Windows Mobile

Mobile Platforms

Questions?

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