Issues and Limitations

on Mobile Computing

Contents
• Wireless Issues
– Mobile Computing
– Wireless Architecture
– Wireless Access Technologies
– Wireless Applications
• Wireless Limitations
• Middleware for Mobile Computing
• Summary & Further Issues
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 Mobile Computing
• What is the computing?
– Operation of computers as Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary states.
• What is the mobile?
– That someone/something can move or be moved easily
and quickly from place to place as Oxford Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary states.
• What is the mobile computing?
– Users with portable computers still have network
connections while they move.

Theodoros Chrysafis - Computer 2

Science Department - CITY Liberal
 Wireless Architecture
• Personal Communication Network (PCN)
– Extension of nowadays Infranstructure
• ITU Specifications
– Hierarchical Cell Structure
– Global Roaming
– Expansion of Radio Spectrum

Theodoros Chrysafis - Computer 3

Science Department - CITY Liberal
Wireless Access Technologies
• Past and Current State
– AMPS, TDMA, CDMA in USA, GSM in
Europe, Public Packet Radio and CDPD
– Private Mobile Radio
– Wireless LAN
– Satelite Systems

Theodoros Chrysafis - Computer 4

Science Department - CITY Liberal
 Wireless Applications
• Horizontal Applications
– Yellow Pages
– Movies Info
• Vertical Applications
– Access to large amount of data (databases)
• Requirements
– support to any mobile appliance
– support to any network
– capability to sustain long - short time disconections
– access replicated data or database file systems
Theodoros Chrysafis - Computer 5
Science Department - CITY Liberal
 Wireless Limitations
• Mobility
– Auto configuration of the system
– Location management
• Lookups (Track user’s call)
• Updates (Update user’s position and/or data)
– Security Authentication
– Spectrum range

Theodoros Chrysafis - Computer 6

Science Department - CITY Liberal
 Wireless Limitations
• Wireless Medium
– Cost of Networks
– Quantity and reliability of bandwidth
– Environment obstacles
• Portability = Mobile Restrictions
– Low Resources
– Battery Constraints
– Lack of Security
Theodoros Chrysafis - Computer 7
Science Department - CITY Liberal
Middleware for Mobile Computing
• Middleware
– What is the middleware?
– Considerations
• Application Integration
• Device Independence
• Mobile Agents
• Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
– bring Internet content to digital cellular phones
– creation of global wireless protocol specification
– enable creation of contents with wide range of usage
– to extend existing standards
Theodoros Chrysafis - Computer 8
Science Department - CITY Liberal
 WAP Research Interests
• Over the air provision
• Persistent Storage
• SIM Tool Kit
• Location Services
• Network Management
• Broadband Services
• Corporate Data Access
• IMT - 2000 (3G) Multimedia Capabilities
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Summary & Further Issues
• Wireless Issues
• Wireless Limitations
• Wireless Middleware
• Research on:
– Broadcast
– Location Management
– Spectrum Utilisation
– Extension on existent ptotocols
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