Investigation in the development of Standalone Location Based Services Nkululeko Gojela Supervisor: Dr Hannah Thinyane FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Presentation Outline Introduction Introduction Problem Statement Problem Statement Project Objectives Project Objectives Implementation Implementation Reporte on Findings Reporte on Findings Conclusion Conclusion Future Work Future Work Questions? Questions?

Introduction Location Based Services (LBS) depend of location information of subjects. Location Based Services (LBS) depend of location information of subjects. Mobile devices are a suitable platform for hosting LBS. Mobile devices are a suitable platform for hosting LBS. LBS implementations: LBS implementations: – LBS with a supporting aggregation infrastructure. – Standalone LBS

Standalone vs Aggregator Based Services LocationContentProvider LocationInformationServer(Aggregator)

Project Objectives Examine the methods used for locating devices and: Examine the methods used for locating devices and: – How information available divides the types of services that can be developed. Explore the extent of portability of LBS services given current technologies. Explore the extent of portability of LBS services given current technologies. Develop a service that can used test for the above mentioned. Develop a service that can used test for the above mentioned.

Adopted Approach Developed service to be run on two layers of mobiles devices: Developed service to be run on two layers of mobiles devices: – SIM Card Layer: would guarantee PORTABILITY – Application Layer: Access to devices capabilities, GPS unit, lesser memories restrictions, etc.

LoxionSys Application – Java Card Initial idea to develop the service as a Java Card Applet: Initial idea to develop the service as a Java Card Applet: – Java Card provides commands that are used to interaction with the SIM card. – Card performs instructions and returns result. PROVIDE LOCAL INFORMATION pro-cmd command – Card is “proactive” – initiates the commands by itself.

LoxionSys Application – Java Card PROVIDE LOCAL INFORMATION pro-cmd command private void MyLocalInfo() throws ToolkitException { ProactiveHandler ph = ProactiveHandler.getTheHandler(); ph.init(PRO_CMD_PROVIDE_LOCAL_INFORMATION, (byte)0x00, DEV_ID_ME); ph.send(); } Command qualifiers: '00' = Location Information according to current NAA; '01' = IMEI of the terminal; '02' = Network Measurement results according to current NAA; '03' = Date, time and time zone; This means that we are able get the current CELLID from the network. This means that we are able get the current CELLID from the network.

LoxionSys Application – Java Card Issue with this approach: Issue with this approach: – Operator SIM Cards encrypted and locked down. No way to test unless operator buy in. No way to test unless operator buy in. – Complication with Development environment led to inability to continue with development. But given the CELLID from the network, we are able to approximate the location of the device. But given the CELLID from the network, we are able to approximate the location of the device. By knowing the CELLID and knowing the CELL position. By knowing the CELLID and knowing the CELL position. Open source projects such as OpenCellID we can find the location of the GSM cell. Open source projects such as OpenCellID we can find the location of the GSM cell.

LoxionSys Application – Java ME Reminder services developed in Java ME. Reminder services developed in Java ME. Java ME because of wide support by mobile device manufacturers. Java ME because of wide support by mobile device manufacturers. – Greater chances of portability than other languages. – Support Location Based Services: JSR-179 Location API for J2ME Specification and it’s implementation.

LoxionSys cont… Services allow users to: Services allow users to: – Current location information (Coordinates) – View position on Google Maps Static Images. – Set Landmarks are current locations. – Trigger Events (Vibrate, Alert Messages, SMS Message) on proximity to landmarks.

LoxionSys cont… Java ME defines the Location API with the features needs for the developed of LBS: Java ME defines the Location API with the features needs for the developed of LBS: – Discovery of Current location – Landmark – Proximity listeners – Location listeners – Address data associates with landmarks. s.

LoxionSys cont…

However not all mobile devices have GPS support and therefore implement the Location API. However not all mobile devices have GPS support and therefore implement the Location API. Alternative method is Network Positioning. Alternative method is Network Positioning. However position information is only available to network operators. However position information is only available to network operators. By making use of system properties, we can find the CellID the devices is connected to. By making use of system properties, we can find the CellID the devices is connected to.

LoxionSys cont… Because there is no implementation where there is no GPS unit, Landmark storage is provided through the Java ME RMS. Because there is no implementation where there is no GPS unit, Landmark storage is provided through the Java ME RMS. This allows us similar functionality provided by the Location API. This allows us similar functionality provided by the Location API. Other functions include: Other functions include: – View location on Google Static MAPS – Select desired reminder type [Vibrate devices, Send SMS, Flash Backlight] – Possibly looking at ability to send new CellIDs and coordinates to OpenCellID Database.

Findings Portability is not completely possible due to different manufacturers implementation of Java Specifications. Portability is not completely possible due to different manufacturers implementation of Java Specifications. Even though the GPS unit enables short range services: Even though the GPS unit enables short range services: – Some of the challenges with accuracy as different response was received with different GPS equipped devices. – Non-GPS equipped device get excluded from these services, but no evidence of no portability between GPS equipped devices.

Findings Using CellID would enable for LBS where area covered is larger. e.g. Weather Services. Using CellID would enable for LBS where area covered is larger. e.g. Weather Services. – Whoever some challenge around some manufacturer specific implementations limit portability: System.getProperty("CellID"); //Retrieve CellID form network System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.cellid"); //For Nokia

Project Objectives Examine the methods used for locating devices and: Examine the methods used for locating devices and: – How information available divides the types of services that can be developed. Explore the extent of portability of LBS services given current technologies. Explore the extent of portability of LBS services given current technologies. Develop a service that can used test for the above mentioned. Develop a service that can used test for the above mentioned.

Conclusion The adoption of Java by mobile device manufacturers provide a step towards portability. The adoption of Java by mobile device manufacturers provide a step towards portability. Evidence of completely portability not a available. Evidence of completely portability not a available. Type location information available divides the types of services that can be developed. Type location information available divides the types of services that can be developed.

Future Work Future explore the development of LBS on the Java Card. Future explore the development of LBS on the Java Card. – Whether some of the challenges on the application layer are eliminated on the SIM Card layer. Security related issue with standalone LBS and proposed solution for them. Security related issue with standalone LBS and proposed solution for them.

Questions