J. Comp. & Math. Sci. Vol. 1(2), 253-262 (2010).
A Context-Aware and Student Progress Mobile Application M.MALLIKARJUNA RAO 1 and Dr. FAYAZ K. 2 S.K. University, Anantapur-515001, A.P. (India) 1 m.mallikarjunarao.knl@gmail.com 2 fayazk16@gmail.com ABSTRACT In today’s competitive business world, with the advent of mobile devices, the use of mobile applications and contextaware applications are becoming very popular and vital. One of the application that can be useful for parents to know the academic progress of their children. Student Progress Mobile Application is software that shows entire progress report of the students and their parent’s related databases. The framework was designed and implemented by using J2ME. The explored parent’s problems and requirements and the relevant Student Progress Mobile Application were proposed that will useful for them. The framework was developed Keywords: SMS, smart phones, Framework, SPMA.
1. INTRODUCTION Due to rapid technological inventions with the grate emergence of mobile devices such as smart phones, Personal Digital Assistance (PDAs) and notebook, mobile application are becoming more prevalent1,8. Student Progress Mobile Application (SPMA) provides relevant information and services based on the information from the user. There are some Short Message Service (SMS) based services that are common services provided by
the institutions or colleges2. Developments of these services are seen in SPMA, software which manages and shows all requirements of the parents. Its main aim is to help the parent to do their activities conveniently from any where at any time. Current SPMA is an organizer focus only on parent requirement activities. Since it is important for the system to satisfy parent’s requirements, the first step is developing a SPMA to
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find out parent’s requirements. Based on these a proper framework was implemented and SPMA is developed. The next one software is developed based on the framework by using J2ME technology. The J2ME is a suitable technology that can run on any smart phones and communicate with any Web Application and database. 2. Rel ate d Work: Now the current versions of this type of applications are developed only on web application, where and when they want to see the reports the internet connection is needed, then only he can able to login and see the required reports3. Where as in our proposed system, the user can login in both the ways either from their mobile/smart phone or computer system. It is responsible for detecting that a parent is login successfully, then load necessary software or content for the required student. This framework records the context information such as reports, face structure, receipts of fees. The framework provides the context services. Intelligent agents gather data from location agents as context and provide the services for users. 3. Proposed work There are four concerns for this research paper first is that technologies design must be adaptable to the variability of institutional arrangements. The second one is considering the differences between lab and real world. The third is finding best solutions,
finally, using the technologies of all kinds. Results show the successful adoption to the real world but the main problem is that some parents do not like to use it and their reason is that they do not have any idea about using mobile applications. This mobile application not only giving progress reports, but also able to show the exact fee structure, how much fee is to be paid by the candidate and even parents can also make a fee payments through this application by clicking mobile banking option and if the candidate is absent , parents can get information through SMS. Even a parent can chart with class teacher (if available), or he can place any request to any person in the institution or college. Through this mobile application, a parent can login in any institution, which are registered with this application2. So application development should be such a way that it can be able to add more number of institutions or colleges, but application is same the request can be go for different database servers. The several principles are mentioned for designing context-aware applications and familiarizes with parents requirements as well as institutional requirements particularly in context aware mobile application4. The framework is designed to cover parent’s and institutional databases and it is designed based on general
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M. Mallikarjuna Rao et al., J.Comp.&Math.Sci. Vol.1(2), 253-262 (2010). 255 context-aware application principles, such as reports, information, notices, news etc…The research is the implementation process, which include studying and choosing the proper technology for the development of Software. The first step in developing a SPMA is verifying parent’s and institutional, requirements. In order to obtain the requirements, a questionnaire survey research was carried out. These two research questions that have been identified for this survey research. The first one is to study parent’s requirements. Different ways to specify potential problems in the institutional environment were used, such as studying similar systems, interviewing several heads of institutions and parents. The last research question is regarding which features parents prefer to use in a mobile application9. One hundred fifty females and two hundred males’ parents are participated in this survey. The number of respondents from the above the users are familiar or not familiar with mobile applications. Eighty five percent (85%) of the parents have hand-held devices such as smart-phones, PDAs. So using wireless network has been used widely by the parents. There are some parents who are using the application by web application. Thus the high rate of using application with hand-held and smart-phones only. Two important concerns for
developing mobile application are security and privacy. Three questions have been asked based on the following issues., The problem of disclosing personal information of institutions or colleges. The problem to access online information, because of security concerns. The problem of trusting the wireless network provided by the institution or college. The result of survey shows that the current security in SPMA satisfies parents head of institutions however, would like to have more control over their private information. Suggested features are stated below. Use secure application rather than easy access application. Decide to push only required information. Using only trusted links. Institutions are preferred to have secured applications rather than applications that easy to be used. In addition to that, they prefer to have control over their private data. In this context, There are two major problems faced by the parents. The first problem is that parents cannot access easily due to server disconnection. The last problem is that if the user using incompatible phones then it leads to application errors.
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256 M. Mallikarjuna Rao et al., J.Comp.&Math.Sci. Vol.1(2), 253-262 (2010). The question of SPMA how many parents using? The description of SPMA and its usage is given to parents. For numerous respondents to answer the several questions. The first question is to ask to measure the respondent’s knowledge about the SPMA. Twenty-four percent of respondents have heard about the SPMA, which is a reasonable rate as it was expected that many parents knew noting about the mobile application. The next question is measuring how the respondents favor to the SPMA. Twenty-six parents of respondents strongly agree that a SPMA can help them to access their required online information more easily. Forty-Five percent of respondents agree with having a mobile application, while only five prevent of respondents disagree in using a SPMA. Results are shows that parents believe the SPMA. Results show that parents believe the SPMA can help them in their activities.
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Fig.1. Summary of respondent’s opinion about SPMA
Amylases of the result shows that parents currently have several problems in their activities and two problems are recognized as major problems for SPMA. Consequently, parents believe that SPMA is suitable software for solving their problems. Eight-three percent of respondents prefer to use the application to assist them in their activities. The subsequent survey focuses on the features of the SPMA that had been assumed as a part of the parent’s requirements. Fifteen features are offered as stated below. 1. Information about college working days and holidays. 2. Information about fee structure and actual fee. 3. Information about student attendance. 4. Progress report of the student. 5. Request for transfer certificate 6. Request for special observation on students. 7. Request for leaves and permissions. 8. Information about events organized by the institution in both i.e. SMS and online. 9. Fee payments made by online mobile banking. 10. Booking admissions for next year. 11. Modifying address for communication. 12. Information about bus routes. 13. Suggestions to the head of institutions or college.
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M. Mallikarjuna Rao et al., J.Comp.&Math.Sci. Vol.1(2), 253-262 (2010). 257 14. Mobility to login any institutions (which are resisted by the SPMA). 15. Request appointments to meet head of institution or college. 100%
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includes two main layers which are business application and user interface6. The user interface is responsible to show the user services as selecting institution and other requests. It is also responsible for requesting a service and sends it to the local or host server based on the type of request.
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Fig. 2 Summary of response for SPMA 4. Framework This framework contains two main application, which are hand-held device application (client application) and server application 2. Framework architecture is shown in figure 3.
Fig. 3, Framework of Student Progress Mobile Application At glance, A Client Application
Local Service Provider (LSP) brings local features to users like progress reports, fee structure, status, status of fee paid, request for attendance report, etc‌. LSP receives local request, via java remote component. After sorting the request in a server, a security module checks the authorization and authentication of the user. Afterwards, a SPMA process the request that includes receiving local information from the user device, recognizes the context and produces suitable information for service provider. The service provider receives data from the context recognizer and produces the suitable services as an object 9. The service provider determines the privacy level of response and set privacy level of object using Client Activated Object (CAO) and Service Activated Object (SAO). Remote com-ponents automatically change the plain object to a web service and sends to client application. Bank Service Provider responds to demands related to bank activities such as deducting amount from client debit account, balance enquiry, mini statement, etc‌. The server, after checking security issues, send the request to a service module in order
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to create the right response and reports. The response, which is an object, is send to client via java remote component. 5. Software Development Development of the SPMA is done by using J2ME technology. Programming language is java and database is postgresql10. This application runs on any device (java enabled phones). Apache Tomcat Server and its facilities to provide a secure environment for server applications, and present some abilities for managing files and permissions easily. J2ME technology is used for developing and implementing context-aware aspects like transferring services7,8. Postgresql offers facilities for securing data storing and transferring such as using stored procedures. Because user uses their notebook than PDAs the user
application is designed in two versions for notebook and smart-phones. Software authenticates users by using socket programming. If user is authenticated in the local service provider, the messages are sent to the client. Login page includes a brief description of student progress mobile application and the user need to select the institution in the select institution dropdown box. Once successfully login, the welcome page will be displayed, in that page the user can see all the different options such as get progress report, pay fee, show fee structure, special request, notice, get attendance report, events, request for TC , logoff, help. The screen short is shown in figure 5.
Fig. 4 Login Page for Client Application in notebook and PDA Versions. Journal of Computer and Mathematical Sciences Vol. 1 Issue 2, 31 March, 2010 Pages (103-273)
M. Mallikarjuna Rao et al., J.Comp.&Math.Sci. Vol.1(2), 253-262 (2010). 259
Fig. 5. Welcome Page in notebook and PDA version
Fig. 6 Payment of Fee in both notebook and PDF Journal of Computer and Mathematical Sciences Vol. 1 Issue 2, 31 March, 2010 Pages (103-273)
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Fig. 7. Sending Suggestions in both notebook and PDAs Moreover, if the user click on the get progress report, this part is going to show the propose features of 2-4. Pay fee option enables the user to pay the fee by selecting their banks, one they click on required bank option, they need to enter the user-id, password and then bank service provider checks the authentication through security module, if valid, then next step they need to payment option, and selecting appropriate institution then the payment will be made. Figure 6 show the screen shots. Figure 6 show the only once the user successfully login with the bank. This option satisfies the feature 9.
Special request is one of the feature, which have not seen in any other similar systems. Few feature which helps the parent to request for appointments, request for special observation on student, request for leaves and permissions, suggestions to the head of institutions. Figure 7 shows the screen shots of sending suggestion. The special request option satisfies the features 6,7,10,13,15. The general features like modifying address for communication, information about bus routes, information about college working days, is designed under sub options. Parents can also be informed by the events through SMS or e-mail, not only that every time request and response made,
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M. Mallikarjuna Rao et al., J.Comp.&Math.Sci. Vol.1(2), 253-262 (2010). 261 the user can also get the response via SMS5. Help form includes the complete information about each part of the software. Thus these forms are very user Friendly to the user, because it is full of GUI and can fulfill the all the activities that are required by the user. 6. RESULTS This study of proposed a Student Progress Mobile Application is to solve parent’s problems in the real life environment. From the survey that was carried out, there are two problems that have been identified by parents as major problems that they are facing in their regular activities: Immediate easy accessing information, more convenience, flexible, secured. The SPMA that has been developed provided features that can help parents to solve these problems.
7. CONCLUSION This study describes the implementation of a SPMA. The study have been carried out that, it is important to process the implementation of software must be based on the right user requirement. The result of the study shows that software that was developed to manage and to satisfy the parent’s requirements. Using the right technology also helps in reducing software complexity.
8. Further Scope Inn order to evaluate the application to see and if it satisfies all of the context-aware criteria. This lead to develop some components to enhance the compatibility of the client application. 9. R EFEREN CES
The use of multiple servers can help to improve the quality of service since some of the information can be provided locally. The implementation of the software is done by using J2ME technology, because this technology has some components that reduce programming complexity of context aware application. The client application is designed in two versions to be usage with notebook and smart-phones. For notebook based client application J2EE technology is used and for smart-phones J2ME technology is used7,10.
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