online file w6.1 wi-fi and the traveling publicwps.pearsoned.co.uk/wps/media/objects/13897/...homes...

Chapter Six: Mobile Commerce and Ubiquitous Computing 6-1

Online File W6.1 Wi-Fi and the Traveling Public

Perhaps nowhere else in the world is there a more compelling case for Wi-Fi connectivity than in the travel industry.Airports, train stations, and hotels are the places that travelers are most likely to have spare time on their hands. Businesstravelers are keen to make productive use of this “dead” time by answering e-mail or conducting business research on theWeb. Recreational travelers frequently want to send e-mail to or read e-mail from friends and family, catch up with fellowtravelers through instant messaging, or investigate activities at their next destination. Both types of travelers may needto book accommodations, alert contacts at their destination of expected arrival times, or reserve taxis or shuttles.

Because of the demands and needs of the traveling public, Wi-Fi hotspots in airports and hotels have grown from anovelty to a necessity. According to the 2008 edition of the iPass Broadband Mobility Index, Wi-Fi hotspots increased46 percent from mid-2007 to mid-2008. For the first time, European business use of Wi-Fi hotspots eclipsed NorthAmerican business use, growing almost 90 percent and accounting for more than 45 percent of all usage worldwide.Intercity travel venues remained the most popular Wi-Fi hotspots, accounting for 75 percent of sessions globally. Airportswere still the top venue with 40 percent of the overall sessions, with hotels coming in second with almost 35 percent ofthe global share. However, hotel Wi-Fi hotspot usage grew faster than airport usage, with approximately 65 percent growthcompared to 30 percent growth for airports. “Commuter transit locations,” such as train stations, also showed stronggrowth of approximately 80 percent (iPass 2008).

Besides the time spent in fixed locations like airports and hotels, another source of unproductive time is the timespent actually traveling on a plane, bus, or train. In response, we’re beginning to see more mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.

In the past, Lufthansa offered in-flight Wi-Fi service on its long-haul fleet. The hotspots were connected to theInternet via satellites, and the user paid fees similar to other Wi-Fi access services. However, Lufthansa discontinued theservice in 2006 due to low usage. In 2008, a number of airlines began either testing or providing broadband in-flight Wi-Fiservices. American, Canadian, and Virgin America airlines are some of the carriers that began providing these services onselect aircraft models or select flights. These services are based on Aircell’s (aircell.com) ground-to-air Gogo service.In contrast, JetBlue, Alaska, and Southwest Airlines are relying on Row 44’s (row44.com) satellite service to provide802.11 b/g Wi-Fi connections. Unlike Aircell’s service, Row 44 is not limited by international borders and is availablethroughout North America.

REFERENCES FOR ONLINE FILE W6.1Fleishman, G. “Comprehensive U.S. Airport Wi-Fi Guide.”

Wifinetnews.com, September 12, 2006. wifinetnews.com/archives/006954.html (accessed January 2011).

iPass. iPass Mobile Broadband Index. September 22, 2008.ipass.com/pressroom/pressroom_wifi.html (accessedJanuary 2011).

Reed, B. “How Four Airlines Plan to Connect Fliers to theWeb.” PC World, December 7, 2007. pcworld.com/ article/id,140416-c,wireless/article.html (accessedJanuary 2011).

6-2 Part 3: Emerging EC Platforms

REFERENCES FOR ONLINE FILE W6.2Fleetwood, C. “Nokia, Google Partnership Highlights

WiFi Trend.” CNNMoney.com, May 12, 2006. cellular-news.com/story/17361.php (accessed January 2011).

Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Talk (accessedApril 2011).

Technology Review. “Long-Distance Wi-Fi.” October 2005.

Online File W6.2 Wi-Fi Mesh Networks, Google Talk, and Interoperability

Researchers in India have developed a protocol that will enable wide area coverage of Wi-Fi networks, which are called Wi-Fi mesh networks. With the conventional Wi-Fi networks that are common in Internet cafés and airports, radio signalsare exchanged between portable devices and the base station, which has a wired connection to the Internet. Their range isonly 100 meters or less. With a Wi-Fi mesh network, several nodes can exchange radio signals with each other as well aswith the devices. The range of a Wi-Fi mesh network is up to 40 kilometers (approximately 25 miles) and at speeds up to20 times faster than traditional Wi-Fi. This arrangement provides wider geographical Wi-Fi coverage at a lower cost than aseries of conventional Wi-Fi networks, because not all the nodes have to be wired to the Internet.

Another development is Google’s Google Talk service, which allows for voice connections and IM (google.com/talk). In May 2006, Google and Nokia launched a handheld Internet browsing device that contained Google Talk, which relies on Wi-Fi instead of cell phone networks. As many as 300 municipalities, including San Francisco; Philadelphia; Suffolk Countyin Long Island, New York; and the entire state of Connecticut, plan to offer the Wi-Fi service free of charge. Initially, becauseof the different protocols, the device cannot call regular phones. However, cell phone equipment manufacturers, includingAvaya, Cisco Systems, and Motorola, are testing devices that have both Wi-Fi and cell phone network capabilities. For example,Motorola partnered with eBay’s VoIP provider Skype. Customers with Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones will have the option of usingSkype’s service in place of a landline service as long as they are within range of a Wi-Fi signal. Once out of Wi-Fi range, thephones switch to cellular technology. Sales of mobile phones with both cellular and Wi-Fi capability began to grow in 2010.

Founded in 1971, Hillarys is one of the United Kingdom’sleading made-to-measure blinds manufacturers, with revenuesof more than £85 million a year and a 23 percent share of thedomestic made-to-measure blinds market. Hillarys employs800 self-employed advisors who visit customers in theirhomes to provide guidance on the company’s range of blinds,awnings, and canopies. The advisors take orders and measurewindows. When the blinds have been manufactured, theadvisors return to customers’ homes to fit them. Each week,8,500 orders are processed and 25,000 individual blinds aresold, manufactured, and fitted.

In the past, orders were done manually by completing apaper form and submitting the form to Hillarys’s head office.This resulted in a four-day delay from the time an order wastaken to the time that it was manually entered into the systemat the head office. Because the forms were handwritten,

details were sometimes prone to error and misinterpretation.Manual order entry and processing often leads to inaccurateinformation, and it also requires a substantial amount of extrawork to chase down the correct information. Hillarys processesapproximately 10,000 orders a week. About 20 percent ofthose orders require correction. Considering that the amountof time required to correct the entries averages about 4 days,customers often experienced large delays in their orders.

Hillarys recognized that it required a cost-effectivesolution that would improve the efficiency and accuracy ofordering and that was integrated with its existing SAPsystem. The solution also had to be easy to use and neededto fit with its existing sales cycle and processes.

After a thorough review of the situation, Hillarysresponded to a proposal from Fujitsu Services to develop amobile solution. The solution was based on Microsoft

ONLINE FILE W6.3Application Case

MOBILE SALES SOLUTION RESULTS IN £1 MILLIONREVENUE BOOST AT HILLARYS

(continued)


Online File W6.3 (continued)

Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC Phone Edition technologyrunning on handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs).Fujitsu Services developed a solution running on VodafoneQtek 2020 devices. Hillarys called the solution Sales AdvisoryMobilisation (SAM). SAM offered real-time, two-way commu-nication from the PDAs to the back office. It also integratedseamlessly with the organization’s existing SAP ordering anddiary-management system.

Using SAM, advisors access their daily schedules ontheir PDAs. This gives them customer details, timing, and thenature of appointments. Customer and appointment informa-tion, which is gathered centrally in Hillarys’s call center, issent to the advisors’ devices daily. The automated allocationis based on their location, availability, and specialist skills.

The device leads the sales advisor through the salesprocess. Using a series of drop-down menus and pick lists,the advisor captures order information about window size,product type, and other special instructions. Complex pricingand promotions information is retrieved from a pocketedition of Microsoft’s SQL Server database running on thePDA. This ensures that the customer gets the best deal. Theadvisor can then give the customer a quote, which he or shecan print out on a portable printer, or take payment with acredit or debit card. The device submits credit card informa-tion to the bank for on-the-spot authorization.

The order is sent to the head office in real time and isuploaded automatically into the SAP ordering system, eliminat-ing the risk of processing errors associated with handwrittenforms.

The advisors helped Fujitsu design the screens, theapplication flow, and the language used. As a result, thesolution mimics its sales process. By the time the project iscomplete, there will be 700 advisors using the device, whichis about 85 percent of Hillarys’s sales force.

The mobile solution provided by Fujitsu resulted in anumber of benefits for Hillarys. Among the most importantwere the following:

◗ Increased efficiency and productivity. Through theelectronic capture of data and its immediate transmission

REFERENCES FOR ONLINE FILE W6.3Fujitsu. “Hillary Blinds.” 2005. fujitsu.com/downloads/SVC/

fs/casestudies/hillarys-blinds.pdf (accessed January 2011).Microsoft. “Large Field Sales Operation to Boost Revenues

by More Than £1 Million with Mobile Solution.” 2005.whitepapers.techrepublic.com.com/thankyou.aspx?&docid=268246&view=268246 (no longer availableonline).

to the ordering system, the need for time-consuming,unproductive work is dramatically reduced. Better customerservice is achieved by field advisors getting to theirappointments promptly, pricing is more accurate, debit andcredit card transactions are more secure, and blinds arefitted on time. Hillarys was able to redeploy resources intomore productive areas. Queries are resolved much earlier inthe sales cycle. If an order changes, the information isautomatically uploaded from the device to the back office.

◗ Increased revenue. Results from the pilot demonstratedsales opportunities of around £1.1 million a year as aresult of improved accuracy in the pricing of blinds. Thesystem calculates the price automatically, which is moreeffective than a manual system.

◗ Reduced costs. Hillarys expected to achieve return oninvestment (ROI) in the first year of rollout and deliver netcost savings of around £25 million a year thereon. Hillaryshas greater visibility of incoming orders, and the organiza-tion can more effectively balance income with advertisingand direct-labor costs. The increased accuracy of advisors’diary information means fewer wasted trips and consider-ably less paperwork for them to complete at the end ofeach day.

Not only does the system impact the company’s overallrevenues, but it also impacts the costs and earnings of theindividual advisor. The company estimated that SAM wouldsave the average advisor around £700 a year and wouldincrease his or her incremental commission by £2,000 a year.

Questions1. Draw the supply chain for the old process.

2. Describe the problems along the supply chain of theold system.

3. Describe how m-commerce solved the problems. Use adiagram to illustrate the solution.

4. What other benefits were derived from the wirelesssystem?



NEXTBUS: A SUPERB CUSTOMER SERVICEThe ProblemBuses in certain parts of San Francisco have difficulty keepingup with the posted schedule, especially during rush hours.Generally, buses are scheduled to arrive every 20 minutes, butat times passengers may have to wait 30 to 40 minutes. Thescheduled times then become meaningless, and passengers areunhappy because they waste time.

The SolutionSan Francisco bus riders carrying an Internet-enabled wire-less device, such as a cell phone or PDA, can quickly find outwhen a bus is likely to arrive at a particular bus stop. TheNextBus (nextbus.com) system tracks public transportationbuses in real time. Knowing where each bus is and factoringin traffic patterns and weather reports, NextBus calculatesthe estimated arrival time of the bus to each bus stop on theroute. Arrival times also are displayed on the Internet and ona public screen at each bus stop.

The NextBus system has been used successfully inseveral other cities around the United States, in Finland,and in several other countries. Exhibit W6.4.1 shows how theNextBus system works. The core of the NextBus system is theset of GPS satellites that lets the NextBus information centerknow where a bus is located. Based on a bus’s location, thescheduled arrival time at each stop can be calculated.

Currently, NextBus is an ad-free customer service, but inthe near future it may contain advertising. Because thesystem knows exactly where riders are when they requestinformation and how much time they have until their nextbus, in the future, the system may send riders to the nearestStarbucks for a cup of coffee, giving them an electronicdiscount coupon.

The ResultsPassengers in San Francisco are happy with the system;worries about missing the bus are diminished. A similarsystem is used in rural areas in Finland, where buses areinfrequent and the winters are very cold; passengers canstay in a warm coffeehouse not far from the bus stop ratherthan wait in the cold for a bus that may be an hour late.A bus company can also use the system to improvescheduling, arrange for extra buses when needed, andimprove its operations.

By 2011, numerous public transportation systems inCanada (4 provinces) and the United States (29 states) wereusing the NextBus GPS technology to track buses and keeppassengers informed of arrival times (NextBus 2011). To findout how to access NextBus with your cell phone, visit itswebsite.

GPS Satellites

NextBusInformation

Center

WorldWide Web

Real-TimeArrival

Predictions

Location andBus ID Reported

to AutomaticVehicle Location(AVL) at NextBus

Information Center

01001001010110110010010110101001010

01001001010110110010010110101001010

01001001010110110010010110101001010

Real-TimePassengerMessages

TransitManagementInformation

Wireless Phoneand Mobile Devices

Shelter Signsand Public Displays

Pole Signs

WirelessCommunication

WirelessCommunication

22 Fillmore7 min & 12 min

EXHIBIT W6.4.1 NextBus Operational Model

Source: Used with permission of NextBus Information Systems, Inc. Copyright (c) 2005.


REFERENCES FOR ONLINE FILE W6.4ITS America. “NextBus Expands Real-Time Transit

Information in the Bay Area with AC Transit.” ITSAmerica, August 9, 2001. nextbus.com/corporate/press/#actransitExpansion (accessed January 2011).

NextBus. “Intelligent System Predicts Bus Arrival Timesand Reduces Transportation Complaints.” Press release,September 26, 2007. nextbus.com/corporate/press/inthenews.htm (accessed January 2011).

NextBus. nextbus.com (accessed January 2011).

Online File W6.5 Warehouse Management Systems: Mobile Solutions

IntroductionMobile solutions play a major role in warehouse management. Warehouses are the center of manufacturing, retail, serviceand other organizations. To run a successful operation, managers need to ensure that materials, goods, and products floweffortlessly throughout the warehouse. Companies can achieve this with the help of warehouse management systems(WMS) software and a mobile data collection and communication system.

Your warehouse plays a key role in ensuring that your company meets its productivity goals. A WMS that includesinventory management, receiving, storing, picking, and shipping solutions enables you to move goods and informationthrough your warehouse, distribution center, stockroom or store, at a greater speed with no errors.

WMS tools can help you move and store inventory at maximum efficiency and minimum cost. Faster order cycles andcost savings are just some of the other benefits of the technologies. Major benefits include: streamlining processes tomove items faster and store them more efficiently, reducing inventories and labor costs, and increasing accuracy andcustomer satisfaction. This online file will list some mobile warehouse applications. For information on WMS, seesearchmanufacturingerp.techtarget.com/tutorial/Warehouse-management-systems-software-guide andprospectasoftware.com/Resources/sap_wm.pdf.

Wireless Solutions for the WarehouseWireless solutions in the warehouse environment can be found along the company’s internal supply chain and in theinteraction points with its partners. Some of the major categories of applications are:

Data Collection and Transfer. Data collection can be done by scanning bar codes (using a bar code reader) or readingRFID tags with RFID readers. Data collection can also be done using iPhone applications. (Note that RFID is still expensiveand difficult to deploy especially if partners are involved; see Chapter 11).

The problem is not only to collect the data but also to transfer it to another device, to a server, or to the network.This can be done by using Bluetooth for example. With appropriate data collection, you can optimize the inventorymanagement (including counting items), optimally use all of the storage bins, mix pallets belonging to several depart-ments, and find exactly where a particular material is located in the plant at all times.

Communication. The warehouse environment can be noisy, dirty, involved with moving items and vehicles, include refrig-erators and/or ovens, and more. Multiple tools are available to overcome person-to-person and computer to peoplecommunication problems. Several devices enable hands-free operations while others are voice operated. Communicationenables picking and replenishment, and optimizes work flow.

Other Applications. Other applications include:

◗ Cross docking solutions that expedite the flow of products from receiving to shipping.◗ Cold storage and freezer solutions that optimize operations inside refrigerators and maximize productivity in cold storage

environments.◗ Hands-free and voice solutions for the warehouse that increase mobility and relay information quickly and accurately.◗ RFID distributions and warehouse solutions that enable smooth workflow processes while enhancing efficiency.◗ Order picking and replenishment solutions that allow the processing of more orders per day, reducing errors and improving

customer service.◗ Vehicle mount solutions that allow you to achieve high levels of productivity and accuracy across warehouse operations.

(continued)


Online File W6.5 (continued)

For more details on these applications, see motorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Solutions/Industry+Solutions/Manufacturing/Materials+and+Warehouse+Management_US-EN.

Example: Hame Ltd.Hame Ltd. is a Czech company that manufactures long-life and convenience food, including meat, tomato puree, fruits andvegetables. In 2011 it manufactured more than 100,000 tons of food products, making it one of the Czech Republic’sbiggest food producers. The company also exports to more than 35 countries.

HAME was facing many challenges in its logistics processes. First, the nature of its distribution business meant that ithad many different pickup and dispatch locations, including several external warehouses, which frequently had limitedspace. A lot of the information about dispatch and delivery was also recorded manually on paper, which meant that datahad to be re-entered manually into the computerized logistics system where mistakes occurred.

Both of these factors resulted in Hame often paying excessive costs in order to transport goods from its manufacturingplants to different dispatch departments and warehouses.

In 2010, Hame opened a new, large central distribution center that consolidated the large number of pickup anddispatch positions into one main place so that all deliveries would come to and from one location.

Hame chose a WMS called Osiris ICZ, which was linked to the central ERP system. It was chosen because it wouldenable Hame to automate its goods identification process by using wireless barcode scanners and provide real-time visibilityinto warehouse management.

The WMS is supported by Motorola VC5090 vehicle-mounted mobile computers that have a laser reader, enabling themto capture bar code data quickly. The device has an extremely rugged and robust design so it can withstand multiple fallsto concrete from up to 1.8 meters. Hame also needed a device that could scan a bar code from long distance, because thestorage racks in the warehouse can be up to 10 meters high. As a result, Motorola MC9000 mobile computers were selectedfor rapid data capture, to be carried around by warehouse staff.

The bar codes contain additional data such as the exact description and location of goods, forklifts and trolleys, andstorage areas within each warehouse, and this information is fed directly into the back-end system in real-time via thewireless network. The mobile devices are ideal for use in Hame’s warehouses where conditions can be extremely dusty andhumid. For details, see the case study, “Hame uses Motorola Mobile Computers and Wireless LAN Solution to ImproveInventory Processes in New Distribution Center and Improves Efficiency by 30%,” published by Motorola.com (2009).



WI-FI SENSOR NET AIDS WINEMAKERSPickberry, a Sonoma/California vineyard, is using a sensornetwork to address an age-old conundrum: how to grow bettergrapes. Grapes that produce good wine sell at a premium, sogetting the right conditions for good growth can mean thedifference between profit and loss for small vineyards.

One problem Pickberry (now Ravenswood PickberryVineyard) faces is that the Sonoma County vineyard is spreadover a hill, and the growing conditions vary over the differentparts of the slope. In order to monitor key growing condi-tions, such as temperature, humidity, and soil moisture,measurements need to be taken at various points throughoutthe vineyard. Field monitor sensors have been available forsome time, but running data cables through the vineyard hasbeen prohibitively expensive to install and maintain andtherefore impractical. Pickberry’s viticulturists also want infor-mation that can help them work out what grape-growingconditions produce good quality grapes. In the past, theyhave had to speculate retrospectively why vines growing inone part of the vineyard in one year produced better grapesthan vines in another part of the vineyard in another year.

The solution is a sensor net that uses Wi-Fi for data con-nectivity. Sensors that monitor the conditions known to bekey influences on grape quality have been placed throughoutthe vineyard. A sensor communicates its data to a centralserver by hopping from one Wi-Fi access point to another.The analysis engine on the server has a series of alerts builtin that tells the growers when particular levels of indicators,such as soil moisture or temperature, are reached. Thencorrective action can be taken.

Wireless was a natural choice for the grape growers,according to Bill Westerman, an associate partner atAccenture who worked on the project. “We are able to getdata from 30 acres back to home base without having to runcables and without having to have radio transmitters that arepowerful enough to make the leap from one end of the fieldto the other,” said Westerman.

The remote sensor network provides Pickberry with theability to:

◗ Make calculated decisions. Decisions can be madealmost vine-by-vine—thanks to the granular level of the

data obtained in near real time. For example, Pickberrycan use the data to adjust watering schedules for aspecific area.

◗ Combine vineyard data with other data sources.This enables Pickberry to manage operations andresources, such as water usage, more scientifically. Livedata on soil moisture and air humidity can be correlatedwith weather forecast data to match estimated waterdemand with well supply.

◗ Detect potentially devastating events. Frost, disease,and pests can be detected early on.

What are the results? Obviously the data are helping thePickberry grape growers know much more about the health oftheir vines in different parts of the vineyard. They betterunderstand how water is being retained and how much waterneeds to be applied, promoting both healthy vines and waterconservation. The analysis also has been used to reduce theapplication of fungicides to control mildew. Now fungicidesare applied only when and where they are needed rather thanblanket coverage on a regular schedule, as was done beforethe sensor net.

The data also are helping the viticulturists work outthe conditions that produce the best grapes. According toWesterman, “They are using this data in part to verify whatthey did before and to get details they never had before.”

Armed with insight provided from sensor applications,Pickberry can take immediate action. These capabilities leadto more effective crop management, lowering costs whileraising product quality.

Questions1. How is the Wi-Fi sensor net contributing to Pickberry’s

core competency of grape production?

2. Why is Wi-Fi such an important part of this solution?

3. What are the benefits for Pickberry, for the environ-ment, and for the wine industry?

REFERENCES FOR ONLINE FILE W6.6Accenture. “Pickberry Vineyard: Accenture Prototype Helps

Improve Crop Management.” 2006. Accenture.com/xd/xd.asp?it=enweb&xd=servicespercent5Ctechnologypercent5Ccasepercent5Cpickberry.xml (accessed December2008).

Ward, M. “Wi-Fi Sensor Net Aids Winemakers.” BBCNews, July 6, 2004. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3860863.stm (accessed December 2008).


Online File W6.7 Representative Wireless Industrial Sensor Network Applications

Many companies offer sensor network-based solutions. One example is Banner Engineering (bannerengineering.com).Banner Engineering’s SureCross product line offers reliable wireless industrial I/O monitoring and control solutions for

most applications, including:

◗ Factory automation◗ Process automation◗ Agriculture and irrigation◗ Water and wastewater monitoring landfill and biomass◗ Tank level monitoring◗ Material handling

The following are some sample applications.

1. Production line notification (factory automation). The flexibility and ease-of-use for these products makes it easyto integrate the SureCross product line into any existing indoor or outdoor facility. A sensor system lets managers,technicians, and clerks know when they are needed on the production line.

2. Delivery truck arrival notification. A wireless sensor network is mounted above the loading dock to detect when adelivery truck has arrived at the facility. When the sensor detects a truck in the loading dock, the wireless networksends a signal that lights up several blinking color lights mounted at strategic locations to notify personnel.

3. Call for a forklift. Sensors call the forklift to bring parts to the assembly line when they sense a forthcoming need.Thus, parts arrive just-it-time; no waiting time.

4. Material handling. Throughout an assembly plant, conveyor systems carry subassemblies to the assembly line. Forprocess and control monitoring, sensors need to detect if a carrier is full or empty. Using a wireless sensor network todetect the presence of product makes data gathering and network maintenance easier and less costly.

5. Bin risk. Applying lean manufacturing principles in existing assembly facilities is increasingly common (e.g., in masscustomization) with manufacturers looking to speed up production times by eliminating mistakes made when thewrong parts are selected. Using a wireless sensor network and lighted indicators makes picking the correct parts fasterand it improves manufacturing efficiency.

6. Automated guided vehicle. An automated guided vehicle (AGV) delivers assembly line parts to workstations whenthe parts are needed. Remote, self-contained push buttons attached to SureCross Wireless Nodes can be placed atassembly line workstations to signal a wireless gateway-equipped automated guide vehicle (AGV) for replenishment ofassembly parts.

7. Wireless perimeter guard. Storing large items outdoors presents a potential risk of property damage throughvandalism or loss from theft. Using a solar-powered wireless alert system prevents damage or loss by alerting securitypersonnel when someone has entered your outdoor storage area without clearance.

8. Retail traffic analysis. Large retail stores require an easy-to-install wireline and wireless sensor solution formonitoring customer traffic in various parts of the store. These monitors generate statistics that are analyzed and canhelp optimize placement of products and advertising, thus increasing sales.

9. Railcar axle mover. In grain stations and ports, railcar axle movers push railway cars so that train engines are notneeded. A railcar mobile wheel monitoring system detects the railcar wheels and triggers an axle pushing arm toactivate, pushing the railcars to the next loading or unloading station.

For details on these and other applications, see bannerengineering.com/en-US/wireless/surecross_web_appnotes andmotorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services.


Online File W6.8 Security Approaches for Mobile Computing

WEPWired equivalent privacy (WEP) is a security protocol for Wi-Fi networks that encrypts the communications between amobile device and the wireless access point. WEP provides weak encryption, meaning that it is secured against casualhacking as long as the person setting up the network turns on the encryption. Unfortunately, many small business ownersand home owners operating a WLAN fail to do just that.

Although WEP offers a measure of security, the trade-off is inconvenience. In order to employ WEP, all Wi-Fi usersmust be educated on how it works, their computers must be reconfigured to connect to the network, and the encryptioncode must be changed frequently. Additionally, every authorized user must be given the encryption key, which means thata lot of people will be carrying around the keys to the network. In larger companies, if a hacker can gain access to theencryption key or can get through the WEP security in some other way—which is easily done with readily available soft-ware, such as Aircrack-ng (aircrack-ng.org/doku.php) or WEPCrack (wepcrack.sourceforge.net)—the damage is often greater,because companies have a habit of installing their wireless access points behind their firewalls.

There are alternatives to WEP. If a company is concerned about the security of wireless data communications, it canuse VPN technology to create a secure connection over the wireless link. Also, a new Wi-Fi security standard—Wi-FiProtective Access (WPA)—is under development. This standard has the backing of the Wireless Fidelity Alliance and theInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). WPA provides enhanced encryption and supports user authentica-tion, something that was missing from WEP. The alliance has already begun certifying Wi-Fi products with WPA security. TheWPA encryption was cracked in 2007, and experts recommend using WPA2 when securing wireless networks (Vamosi 2008).

SIM-Based AuthenticationGSM and its 2.5G–4.0G counterparts all include SIM. This module is usually implemented as a smart card that contains anauthentication key along with other vital information about the subscriber. The authentication key also is stored on a“home location registry,” which can be thought of as a database that is part of the mobile network. When the phone isturned on, the user is asked to enter a PIN number. This protects the cell phone against illegal use if it happens to bestolen or lost. If the PIN is correct, the cell phone and the network engage in a “challenge-response” process of authenti-cation. A network authentication center sends a random number to the cell phone’s SIM. The SIM computes a “signedresponse” by combining the random number with its authentication key. The signed response is sent over the networkto the authentication center, which performs the same computation using a copy of the authentication key stored on thehome-location registry. If the signed response matches the value computed by the authentication center, then the cellphone is authenticated. After that, communication takes place through “symmetric encryption,” using a key generated byboth the authentication center and the SIM.

Although SIM cards protect against unauthorized use of a particular subscriber’s account, they do not prevent the useof a stolen cell phone. If a thief steals a phone, the thief can simply replace the existing SIM card with another one andsell it on the open market. The police in Amsterdam employed an interesting method to thwart this practice. Using a cellphone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity number, the police are able to track down the mobile phone numberbeing used on the stolen phone. Once the number is known, the police employ a special computer program to send out anSMS message to the stolen phone every three minutes. The message reads, “This handset was nicked [stolen]; buying orselling it is a crime. The Police.” Obviously, this makes the stolen phone a lot less attractive to prospective buyers.

WTSL and WIMThe transmissions between the WAP gateway and the Web server can be secured through the wired Internet securityprotocols (e.g., PKI, SSL, and TSL). These protocols cannot be used on the mobile side of the gateway. Instead, WAP relieson the Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS). Like its wired counterpart (TSL), WTLS enables encrypted communicationsbetween a mobile device and the WAP gateway. Additionally, WTLS supports the key elements of PKI—public and privateencryption keys, digital certificates, digital signatures, and the like.

A wireless identity module (WIM) can be used in combination with WTLS. A WIM is a smart card device, much like aSIM (and, in fact, can be implemented on a SIM). It is designed to hold the security keys and digital certificates used bythe gateway and the Web server to encrypt/decrypt communications. One of the advantages of a WIM is that it can beissued by a bank or other financial institution to handle m-commerce payments and transactions.


REFERENCES FOR ONLINE FILE W6.8Evers, J. “Dutch Police Fight Cell Phone Theft with SMS

Bombs.” IDG News Service, March 27, 2001. archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/03/28/SMS.bomb.idg/index.html (accessed January 2011).

Vamosi, R. “WPA Wireless Encryption Cracked.” CNETNews, November 6, 2008. news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-10083861-57.html (accessed January 2011).

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