Chapter-2 Mobile Computing

2.1 Introduction
ü Mobile Computing: It is also known as Remote, Wireless, Nomadic Computing. It is basically an
environment in which user need not maintain a fixed position in the Network.
ü Mobile Computing focuses on the application side. It is based on the concept of remote computing.
Goal of Mobile computing is to provide user with true computing freedom irrespective of the location
& time.
ü The rapidly expanding technology of cellular communication, wireless LANs, and satellite services
will make information accessible anywhere and at any time.
ü Regardless of size, most mobile computers will be equipped with a wireless connection to the fixed
part of the network, and, perhaps, to other mobile computers. The resulting computing environment,
which is often referred to as mobile or nomadic computing, no longer requires users to maintain a
fixed and universally known position in the network and enables almost unrestricted mobility.
ü Mobile Computing is an umbrella term used to describe technologies that enable people to access
network services anyplace, anytime, and anywhere.
ü Choice of Mobile computing include: Infrared, Packet Radio Services, Microwave and Satellite
Service.
ü Mobile and wireless: This is the most interesting case. No cable restricts the user, who can roam
between different wireless networks. Most technologies discussed in this book deal with this type of
device and the networks supporting them. Today’s most successful example for this category is GSM
with more than 800 million users.
ü Wireless Computing :The term wireless is normally used to refer to any type of electrical or
electronic operation which is accomplished without the use of a "hard wired" connection
ü Wireless is a transmission or Information transport method that enables Mobile computing over a
distance.
ü The distances involved may be short (a few meters as in television remote control) or very long
(thousands or even millions of kilometers for radio communications).

2.2 Types of Wireless Networks

1.Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANS): WLANS allow users in local area, such as in a university
or a library to form a network and gain wireless access to the internet. A temporary network can be
formed by a small number of users without the need of access point; given that they do not need to
access the resources.
2.Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANS): There are two current technologies for wireless personal
network Bluetooth and Infrared. These technologies will allow the connectivity of personal devices
within an area of 30 feet. Infra Red requires a direct line and the range is less as compared to Bluetooth
technology.
3.Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMANS): WMANS allow the connectivity of multiple
networks in a metropolitan area such as building in a city. The network connectivity is the alternative of
copper or fiber cabling.
4.Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANS): WWANS or Wireless Area Networks can be maintained
over large areas such as in different cities or between different countries, via multiple satellite systems or
antenna sites. The types of system are called 2G systems.
2.3 Mobile Computing Framework
The frameworks of Mobile Computing have 4 dimensions:

WIRELESS DELIVERY TECHNOLOGY

& SWITHCING METHODS

MOBILE COMPUTING BASED MOBILE INFORMATION ACCESS

FRAMEWORK
BUSINESS APPLICATIONS DEVICE

MOBILE DATA INTERNET WORKING

STANDARDS & EQUIPMENTS
 2.4 Wireless delivery technology and switching methods
The methods of wireless communication include:
A. Radio-based Wireless System
B. Light based Wireless System (Infrared Technology)

A. Radio based Systems

Wireless communication services-radio, cellular, satellite and paging-involves radio frequency (RF)
signals that travel over frequencies from 100 KHz to 20 GHz.
• RF signal come in two flavors:
o Local area RF: 902 to 908 MHZ - 2400 to 2483 MHZ
o Wide area RF: Wide area signal are broadcast at about 940 MHZ
• RF communications are of three types:

RF Communication

One Way Two Way Local (30 feet

(10 miles) (6 miles) -100 yards

o One-way: Transmit signal that cover up to 10 miles e.g. Digital paper

o Two-way: Uses transceivers to send and receive data & typically cover 6 miles
o Local: It has maximum range of quarter-mile.
Radio-based Services can be grouped under two categories:

Radio Based Services

Land Based Satellite Based

• Cellular Communication • Paging System

• Packet Data N/W • Very Small Aperture
• Specialized Mobile Radio Satellite (VSAT)

i. Land-based System: Private packet networks, Circuit-switched cellular services, packet-over-

cellular technology, and schemes developed by WANs-including spectrum-spectrum and trunk radio.
ii. Satellite-based: Paging systems and Very Small Aperture Satellite (VSAT).

i. Land-based Wireless Network (Land-based System):

1. Packet Data Networks
2. Cellular services
3. Specialized Mobile Radio
1. Packet Data Network: It is a communication method that transmits the packets of data over a
network via RF signals.
TRANSMIT
PACKET RADIO DATA
Via RF Signal

How it process works? RF Modem

Breaks Data [128 bytes pieces/packet] into packet

Transmits into Air

Picked by Radio Tower & flow to proper address

• Transceiver breaks down the data into packets (128bytes)

• Transmits the stream of packets each with unique no.
• Packets are picked up by radio towers & forwarded to proper addressee.
• In case of any fault packets are resend by sending modem.
Advantages over cellular communication:
• The frequencies are less susceptible to interference and noise.
• Transmission cost based on data packets not connect time.
• No roaming charges
• Digital encoding of transmission increases the security.
Disadvantages:
• Slow communication as user share bandwidth over particular network.
• Radio modem is only applicable to e-mails (no fax)
• Radio modems are expensive and bulky.

2. Cellular communication: Communication takes place through grid of transmitters &

receivers, each one called cell.
Under this system, the areas of coverage are divided into hexagonal cells that overlap at the outer
boundaries (figure). Communication takes place through a grid of transmitters and receivers
(transceivers), each one called a cell. A signal from a cellular handset is handled by the nearest
cell.
Frequencies are divided into cell bands with a buffer zone to prevent jamming of neighboring
cell’s frequencies. As a cellular device, such as portable phone, moves from one stop to another,
the signal may be drop off momentarily due to movement from the area covered by one cell into
the area covered by a different cell. This process is called a handoff.
• Cellular was originally targeted as vehicular subscriber in urban area.
Figure:

Mobile Telephone
Switching Office
(MTSO)

Overlap Coverage

How cellular service works?

It works under this process:
Log on: Each cellular handset is assigned a unique identity or numeric arrangement module
(NAM). This identity is based on its home area. Massages are often sent to the handset through
separate control channels to verify that it operating within the home area. Have to register by
informing the control unit of its location. As the mobile unit moves across cells, it must
continuously send massages to the mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) to confirm its
location so that new calls can be directed to that traffic area.
Monitoring: Once the handset is powered on, it monitors the control channels to get
information on local paging channels. It selects an available channel and goes into an ideal state.
In the ideal state it listen to the data be transmitted over the channel.
Incoming Calls: When an incoming calls is received by the MTSO, it sends a signal to the entire
cell in that traffic area. The set receive the signal and respond to the MTSO. The MTSO will
inform the set to use a specific channel to receive the call, and the set will return itself to the new
frequency.
Outgoing cells: To make a call, the user enters the telephone number and transmits it to the
MTSO by an available access channel. The MTSO either agree to the handset request or ask the
set to change frequency to another available channel.

ii. Satellite Networks

Satellite networks allow global communications and serve thousands of locations all over the
world. Satellite networks are ideal for broadcast applications, such as paging cable TV, news
wires, and stock tickers. Satellite communications are reliable. There are no cables that can be
dug up or destroyed by fire, flood, earth quakes, or other natural disasters, however less suited
for application where security is major concern.
How do satellite networks work?
A satellite receives as a microwave relay station mounted on a very long pole. Each satellite
receives signals on a particular frequency (or set of frequencies), amplifies them, and retransmits
them on another frequency. The software must be aware of, and adapt to, the long delay in the
link (a file transfer protocol such as Xmodem, which “time out” if there’s even a one-second
delay in the wrong place, will undoubtedly fail over such a network.)
1. VSATs (Very Small Aperture Terminals)
The two ground stations that communicate with one another via the satellite need not be the same
(size, transmission). Hence, many satellite networks use a large number of small dishes, called
VSATs (very small aperture terminals), for the outlying nodes and one central hub a big dish that
can transmit very powerful singles and is very sensitive to incoming ones.
However, this approach can cause additional delays, because the VSATs aren’t powerful enough
to talk to one another direct through the satellite; messages must pass through the hub and make
two trips into space before reaching their final destination, incurring a double delay.
2. Paging and Satellite Networks
Paging is the oldest form of mobile telecommunications. It is a wide area, wireless
communications method in which brief alphanumeric messages are transmitted using radio
frequencies to an electronic pager. When a subscriber’s designated telephone number is dialled,
the paging switch sends information to a radio transmitter that broadcasts a signal in the service
area, which in turn delivers message to the subscriber’s specific pager. Pagers can also download
the messages to a notebook or palmtop computer for display.
II. Light-based or Infrared Wireless System
• Infrared works by sending pulses of light from a light-emitting diode (or LED) to a photo
sensor that decodes the signals.
E.g. T.V. Remote controls-Can only send signals
Computing Devices-Can send & receive signal both.
• As the information is carried by light waves, the system will not work if any physical
obstruction is placed between the sending & receiving devices.
Infra Red Equipment

Low Speed Devices High Speed Devices

115kbps-250kbps 1.25 megabytes

Most infrared equipment falls into two categories:

1. Low-speed devices: range from 115 kbps to 250 kbps
2. High-speed devices: transfer data at rate of about 1.25 megabytes per second
Infrared is still not as fast as many cable connections but fine for updating files, downloading &
transmitting. However it works at distance of few feet hence it is not compatible to wireless
technology used cellular communication. Infrared is lack of common technical standards.

2.5 Mobile Information Access Devices Probable Computers Hybrid Pen Computers
• Portable Computers
• Hybrid Pen Computers TYPES
• Cellular Modems & PCMCIA Adapters
• Personal Digital Assistant (PDA
Cellular Modems & Personal Digital
PCMCIA Adapters Assistants (PDAs)
 à Portable Computers

Portable Computers

LAPTOPS NOTEBOOKS HANDHELDS

• CAD • For traditional • Phone lists

• Video presentation general purpose • Messaging
• Replace ‘Luggable’ user
• For large amount of
word processing &
manipulate sizeable
spreadsheets

à Hybrid Pen Computers

These are the computer with pen-based interface. Although it is provided in two ways:
* When open, it reveals a full-size keyboard and pen can be used as mouse.
* When the display is closed, the user is presented with a tablet-size writing pad.
E.g. Insurance Agent: ca n create charts of an accident & can point out which part of car were
damaged.
à Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)
These are the computer which are reduced in size to fit inside the coat pocket and hence are with
limited functionality.
PDA can be classified into three functional segments:
1. Digital assistants
2. Personal communicators &
3. Palmtops

PDAs

Digital Personal Palmtops

Assistants Communicators

1. Digital Assistant: E.g. Pager

• Pen based user interface
• Handwriting recognition
• Information Management Tool
• One way messaging
2. Personal Communicators:
• Cellular telephone with an LCD screen integrated into it.
E.g. Simon, IBM
 • Two way communication
3. Palmtops:
• Carry lot of data
• Higher functionality
• Personal organizers
• Task:
◊ Diary maintenance
◊ Simple note taking
◊ Expanses tracking
◊ Variety of calculator functions
• Software is built onto ROM
• ASPC (Application Specific Personal Computer)
à Cellular Modems & PCMCIA Adapters:
• Also known as wireless modem comes in portable compact format.
• Speed and efficiency is there.
• Some modem relay on standards & some may not so getting connected may be tricky.
There are 2 major market sectors for Cellular Modem:

Cellular Modem

Industry-Oriented General-Purpose
Applications Applications

• Retailing • LAN connectivity is required

• Warehousing • Send & Receives Email
• Manufacturing • Access Database
• Health-Care • Transmit files

2.6 Applications of Mobile Computing

Application

Tracking Common
Online Transaction
Dispatching Communication
Processing (OLTP)
(T&D) Mobile API

A. Tracking & Dispatching (T&D):

• Instant tracking system
• New business & customer retention
• Prompt services
• Field: Courier Services, Taxi Dispatch, Tracking
B. Online Transaction Processing (OLTP):
• Sales, Automation, Distribution
 • ‘Thin-Client’ Software Approach
i.e. Simple, Small & Easy to use
• Areas:
ü Health Care
ü Retail
ü Field Service
ü Travelling Professional ‘Road-Warriors’
ü Convenient Transfer of Files
ü Sales & Services
ü Member of work groups can exchange electronic documents
ü Stock & Commodity trading
C. Common Communication Mobile API:
• Standard Modem
• Interoperable wireless software applications & hardware products
• Common sets of API
• Fully standardized API set
• Standards should be global & take into account all of the wireless technologies &
services that are begin worked on around the world.
In many fields of work, the ability to keep on the move is vital in order to utilize time efficiently.
The importance of Mobile Computers has been highlighted in many fields of which a few are
described below:
a. Vehicles: Music, news, road conditions, weather reports, and other broadcast information are
received via digital audio broadcasting (DAB) with 1.5 Mbit/s. For personal communication,
a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) phone might be available offering
voice and data connectivity with 384 kbit/s. The current position of the car is determined via
the global positioning system (GPS). Cars driving in the same area build a local ad-hoc
network for the fast exchange of information in emergency situations or to help each other
keep a safe distance. In case of an accident, not only will the airbag be triggered, but the
police and ambulance service will be informed via an emergency call to a service provider.
Buses, trucks, and trains are already transmitting maintenance and logistic information to
their home base, which helps to improve organization (fleet management), and saves time
and money.
b. Emergencies: An ambulance with a high-quality wireless connection to a hospital can carry
vital information about injured persons to the hospital from the scene of the accident. All the
necessary steps for this particular type of accident can be prepared and specialists can be
consulted for an early diagnosis. Wireless networks are the only means of communication in
the case of natural disasters such as hurricanes or earthquakes. In the worst cases, only
decentralized, wireless ad-hoc networks survive.
c. Business: Managers can use mobile computers say, critical presentations to major customers.
They can access the latest market share information. At a small recess, they can revise the
presentation to take advantage of this information. They can communicate with the office
about possible new offers and call meetings for discussing responds to the new proposals.
Therefore, mobile computers can leverage competitive advantages. A travelling salesman
today needs instant access to the company’s database: to ensure that files on his or her laptop
reflect the current situation, to enable the company to keep track of all activities of their
travelling employees, to keep databases consistent etc. With wireless access, the laptop can
 be turned into a true mobile office, but efficient and powerful synchronization mechanisms
are needed to ensure data consistency.
d. Credit Card Verification: At Point of Sale (POS) terminals in shops and supermarkets,
when customers use credit cards for transactions, the intercommunication required between
the bank central computer and the POS terminal, in order to effect verification of the card
usage, can take place quickly and securely over cellular channels using a mobile computer
unit. This can speed up the transaction process and relieve congestion at the POS terminals.
e. Replacement of Wired Networks: wireless networks can also be used to replace wired
networks, e.g., remote sensors, for tradeshows, or in historic buildings. Due to economic
reasons, it is often impossible to wire remote sensors for weather forecasts, earthquake
detection, or to provide environmental information. Wireless connections, e.g., via satellite,
can help in this situation. Other examples for wireless networks are computers, sensors, or
information displays in historical buildings, where excess cabling may destroy valuable walls
or floors.
f. Infotainment: wireless networks can provide up-to-date information at any appropriate
location. The travel guide might tell you something about the history of a building (knowing
via GPS, contact to a local base station, or triangulation where you are) downloading
information about a concert in the building at the same evening via a local wireless network.
Another growing field of wireless network applications lies in entertainment and games to
enable, e.g., ad-hoc gaming networks as soon as people meet to play together.
E.g. OLTP:
Now mobile application are being developed in
Health Care: Patient record management
Retail: point of sale.
Field service: Remote data Entry of customer Order.
Travelling professionals
Member work Group: Exchange of electronic document & spreadsheet.
Stock & Commodity trading: trader using mobile device to get up to date information about
stock market & use the information to place the order

2.7 Limitations of Mobile Computing

1. Resource constraints: Battery
2. Interference: Radio transmission cannot be protected against interference using
shielding and result in higher loss rates for transmitted data or higher bit error rates
respectively
3. Bandwidth: Although they are continuously increasing, transmission rates are still very
low for wireless devices compared to desktop systems. Researchers look for more
efficient communication protocols with low overhead.
4. Dynamic changes in communication environment: variations in signal power within a
region, thus link delays and connection losses
5. Network Issues: discovery of the connection-service to destination and connection
stability
6. Interoperability issues: the varying protocol standards