1. Middleware Framework for Disconnection Tolerant Mobile Application Services Communication Networks and Services Research (CNSR) This research is supported and funded through CNSR by Bell / Aliant and ACOA by an AIF research contract. Sangwhan Cha, Weichang Du,.Bernd J. Kurz IntroductionMiddleware Framework Design Research Problem Middleware Architecture Overview Solution Real-World Applications Mobile services are prone to failures caused by the disruption of an active wireless access network connection due to the user’s movement to other networks or signal blocking (shadowing). Thus, proper mechanisms for disconnection tolerant mobile application services are needed. we propose a middleware framework that transparently performs required functionality for users in order to provide continuous mobile services in case of network disruption. Such middleware framework provides an effective disconnection tolerant mobile application service. BS_1 BS_2 User’s path (a) (b) (c) (d) Starting point for getting a signal strength from BS_1 Starting point for getting a signal strength from BS_2 Ending point for getting a signal strength from BS_1 Ending point for getting a signal strength from BS_2 BS : Base Station (a) (b) (c) (d) Signal Strength User’s movement Consider disconnection tolerant mobile application services Prepare losing the connection Recover network connection, Resume mobile application service Figures shows a network disruption between base station 1 and base station 2 when a mobile device moves from point (a) to point (d). Thus, mobile multimedia application services cannot be provided properly during network disconnection from point (b) to point (c). Appropriate mechanisms are needed for preparing a persistent and resumable mobile service before the current wireless access network is lost, making sure that a mobile application continues to run on the mobile device, until reconnection occurs through another detected wireless network, and recovering the execution of the mobile service after the wireless access network reconnection. Application Vendor Platform Hardware Resource SM Service Vendor Platform Hardware Resource Data Mobile Device Mobile Intelligent Server Sever Middleware CH CM RM Service Vendor Platform Hardware Resource SMCH CM RM SM : Service Manager CH : Context Handler CM : Connection Manager RM : Resource Manager Mobile Device Obtain the service type Play the mobile service :SM Monitor the SS Detect the SS weaker :CM Preparing the connection lost Reserve more data :RM Save service state :SM Detect other networks :CM Keeping the mobile service run Analyze context :CH Readjust mobile service :SM Recovering the network connection Restore service state :SM Resume mobile service :SM --Refer the policy Mobile Intelligent Server Server Provide mobile services Communication Control service Control connection Control context Control resource :SM :CM :CH :RM SM : Service Manager CM : Connection Manager RM : Resource Manager CH : Context Handler Current Existing Applications Stored multimedia : Mobile VOD, Mobile IPTV Real time Multimedia : Mobile Video Call : Mobile Conference : Mobile streaming multimedia (Watch child care, Watch house,…etc.) Others : Mobile Game, : VR (Virtual Reality) application : Etc. Future Applications Real time Multimedia : Mobile Cloud computing Virtual Reality (VR) : Mobile Training : Mobile Education : Mobile Medical Application : Mobile E-Commerce : Mobile Entertainment : Mobile Manufacturing Access network (Wireless) Core network (Wired) Global IP network (Wired) Application Middleware Mobile device Services Middleware Mobile Intelligent server Servers Services Server-3 Server-2 Server-1 RSRS Receiving Buffer Sending BufferReceive BufferSend Buffer MIS is located in the fixed network and has reliable connections to the application server. When the disruption in the access network occurs, the middleware on the mobile device will try to make the mobile application run as long as possible with limited resources until reconnection, For more information, Refer to the paper : S. Cha, W. Du, and B. Kurz, “Middleware framework for disconnection tolerant mobile application services” in proceedings of the 10th communication networks and services research conference (CNSR 2010), Montreal, May, 2010.