1 Sending SMS (Short Message Service) to library patrons by using Google Calendar Data API Presented by Andrew Wong Venia Mak 8th Annual IUG meeting at HKIEd Library 3-4 December 2007

2 Background Mobile phone is becoming the most popular personal communication device to all kinds of user. SMS is a very popular and effective messaging service to alert users with the latest information. SMS (Short Message Service) is a mobile service that enables the transmission of alphanumeric messages between telecom devices. SMS is reliable because the system holds undelivered message, and resends them at intervals until receipt is confirmed. Some JULAC libraries have been using SMS such as HKU and LU. Library Services

3 Why Google Calendar™ Sending SMS is not a free service. Sender is required to pay for the messaging fee. HK$0.4 to HK$0.8 will be costed to send a SMS message. Causes financial burden to the Library if sending SMS via telecom service provider. “Google Calendar™ ” is a product of Google, which allows registered users to receive FREE SMS reminders of events. Monthly average no. of library notices sent (Dec 2006 to Nov 2007) First overdue2142 Second overdue340 Third overdue84 Pickup3384 Recall1891 Courtesy15185 Drop hold84 Recall overdue867 Total23,977 Monthly expense : 2,3977 x $0.4 = $ per month Library Services

4 Why Google Calendar™ Google Calendar™ provides Web Service interface (i.e. Google Calendar Data API), which allows development partners to automatically feed new events to the Calendar. “Web 2.0 is the network as platform, spanning all connected devices.” By Tim O’reilly. The Library can make use of Google Calendar Data API to feed the “Library Notices” to Google Calendar™ as new events. Technically, our “Library Notices” are treated as “Events” in Google Calendar™. Thus, the Google Calendar™ will send “Library Notices” as Calendar Events to our Library patrons via FREE SMS for notification if our patrons have registered in Google Calendar™. Library Services

5 Google Calendar™ is based upon GData model which use REST principles and Atom GData feeds support queries based upon URL parameters. With proper authentication, it also supports the ability to post new entries, to modify them or delete them. Why Google Calendar™ Making connection: GET /calendar/feeds/default/private/full HTTP/1.1 Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded Authorization: AuthSub token="yourSessionToken“ User-Agent: Java/1.5.0_06 Host: Accept: text/html, image/gif, image/jpeg, *; q=.2, */*; q=.2Connection: keep-alive” Insert an event: POST <entry xmlns=' xmlns:gCal=' Please note 2 items are overdue Nov 11 11:10pm- 11:10pm

6 Architecture Library Patrons -Mail server -DB server -SMS API -Web server 1.Create Google account 2.Register mobile phone to Google Calendar 3. Authorize libsms.ied.edu.hk 5. Insert event by Google Calendar Data API 6. Send SMS alert Innopac Server 4. Send notice 4. Cc copies of notice libsms.ied.edu.hk

7 HKIEd Library Send Library Notification via (INNOPAC) SMS API (hosted at libsms.ied.edu.hk) Google Calendar Data API Patron’s event is inserted into his/her Google calendar directly through Google Calendar Data API. Google Calendar A SMS reminder will be sent to patron who has registered his/her mobile phone with Google Calendar Mobile Setting Creating Calendar Event Receiving CC copies of library notice Receiving SMS Work Flow Library Services Google

8 Work Flow 1. Send Library Notifications via (INNOPAC) Library SMS server receives CC copies of library notice Procmail is a mail filtering utility. This utility can receive CC copies of Library notices. It can be set to accept those sender from *.ied.edu.hk. Afterwards, accepted mails are forwarded to SMS API (i.e. $HOME/sms/sms_main) for further processing. Part of contents are derived from the notice such as user’s address, type of notice and no. of items Library Services

9 Work Flow Content of Library Notice Derived From the INNOPAC From: HKIEd Library-Lending Sent: Sunday, November 04, :09 AM To: CHAN, TAI MAN Subject: HKIEd Library : Courtesy Notice Mong Man Wai Library (Lending Services) The Hong Kong Institute of Education 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T. Tel no.: DUE DATE REMINDER The following item(s) will be due for return within 3 days. Please return the item(s) on or before the due date, otherwise overdue fines will be charged. Please ignore this reminder if you have already returned or renewed the item(s). Please note that you cannot renew items that have been requested by other users. Thank you. TITLE: How to evaluate progress in problem s CALL NO: QA63.C c.4 BARCODE: MMW Lib Book DUE: DATE CHECKED OUT: :52PM TITLE: Visual Basic 6.0 CALL NO: QA63.C c.4 BARCODE: MMW Lib Book DUE: DATE CHECKED OUT: :54PM CHAN, Tai Man 32:975 Patron’s address. i.e. SMS API Sender. i.e. Lending Service No. of items. i.e. 2 items Types of notice. i.e. Courtesy notice Library Services

10 Work Flow 2. SMS API Store the information (receiver, sender, notice type, no. of items, pickup location) into the database Check the patron if he/she has registered library SMS alert service Regarding notices, generate calendar events in the form of Google Calendar Data Feed Google Calendar Data API Library Services

11 Work Flow 3. Google Calendar Data API Google Calendar allows client applications to view and update calendar events Example of Google Data API feeds <entry xmlns=' xmlns:gd=' <category scheme=' term=' HKIEd Library: Please note 2 items due in 3 days. HKIEd Library <gd:transparency value=' <gd:eventStatus value=' Google Calendar Library Services

12 Work Flow 4. Google Calendar Library Services

13 Work Flow 4. Google Calendar SMS reminder Words shown in SMS Due time of event Time to send SMS reminder Library Services

14 Work Flow 5. Send SMS to patrons Library Services

15 Schedule of Sending SMS Not as same as the time of receiving notice Temporarily schedule: sent out at 11:00 am, 11:30 am and 12:00 noon Delay caused by no service connection Library Services

16 Registration with SMS Alert Service start Have you registered in Google Calendar account? Have you registered your mobile phone with Google Calendar? Register your Google Account in Library SMS Register Google Calendar Account Register mobile phone with Google Calendar NO Yes Google Library Services

17 Library SMS Alert Service – Registration Instructions Library Services

18 3 Steps for Library SMS Alert Service Registration 1)Create a Google Account 2)Register mobile phone with Google Calendar ™ 3)Register to Library SMS alert service Library Services

19 Types of Library Notice Sent to Google Calendar™ Types of library noticeSMS text to be shown on mobile phone Courtesy noticeHKIEd LIB: Please note item(s) due in 3 days. First overdueHKIEd LIB: Please note item(s) now overdue. Second overdueHKIEd LIB: Please return item(s) now overdue. Third overdueHKIEd LIB: Please return item(s) now long overdue. Item(s)to be picked upHKIEd LIB: item(s) ready for pick up at library. Cancellation of requested item HKIEd LIB: Request for item(s) now cancelled. Recalled item(s)HKIEd LIB: item(s) recalled. Please check new due date. Recalled overdueHKIEd LIB: URGENT - item(s) now overdue. Library Services

20 No. of Patrons Registered Types of patronsNumber Staffs50 Students270 Total320* Library Services *As of 30 Nov 2007

21 Library SMS Alert Service Statistics Types of SMS alertNo. of SMS First Overdue258 Second overdue18 Third overdue3 Pickup at MMW1125 Pickup at TCL184 Recall506 Drop hold35 Recall overdue192 Courtesy2306 Total4627 From 1 Sept 2007 to 30 November 2007 Library Services

22 Advantages of This Project 1) Google is popular and users are familiar with its services. 2) The Library, as a data provider, we doesn’t need to “reinvent the wheel” for sending message if the technology is already available at INTERNET such as SMS, Blackberry and PDA. 3) FREE service from Google. 4) An value-added service to our notice. 5) More convenient to library patrons. They can receive library notifications anywhere without checking s. 6) Connecting INNOPAC with other standards and systems that can fully utilize its functionality and capability Library Services

23 Disadvantages of This Project 1) Request patrons to grant the permission to a dedicated web server. 2) The availability of the service is determined by Google Calendar™. 3) Registration process is not straight-forward. Patrons have to create accounts in Google and activate SMS alert service before making registration for using our SMS alert service for receiving Library notices. Library Services

24 Further Development Implement “iCalendar” protocol. “iCalendar” protocol is a common format for exchange calendaring and scheduling information across Internet. 1) Simplify the registration process 2) Extend to other calendars with supporting “iCalendar” protocol such as Yahoo! Strengthen the integration of INNOPAC with other systems such as Web 2.0 applications Library Services

25 Thank You Andrew Venia MAK Library Services