Client Requirement Client required a system that will be compatible with wireless devices that are placed in range and can form a type of wireless network in case of blue tooth. Data should be accessible to any wireless device enabled with the client that is installed. Client required a software that will enable mobile users to access Bluetooth or GPRS network located at pre-specified locations and benefit from location based information and value added services. The software will be targeted for marketing purposes and business advertisements. This system shall be made available for customer centric services such as shopping centers based on location and proximity.
Challenges The team faced the following challenges
System should work as a web server and should be capable of delivering location based proximity content with a certain range. System should use Bluetooth and GPRS wireless technology for communication. A Personal Area Network should be developed to make data accessible to any wireless device enabled with downloadable wireless client. The system should be equipped with a dependable framework that is capable of supporting a wide range of value added services as well as localized information over the network. Data transfer should be safe and secure.
Technologies Used Operating System & Server Management
Development Tools & Environments Database
Windows OS/Windows Mobile , Multi-Server Architecture with Staging & Production Environment through Version Controlling releases, Server Optimization, Security & SSL Implementation, Scheduler for Back-ups, Alert Monitoring System Integration, Server Performance Tuning at regular intervals, Software Firewall Configuration & Maintenance VC++ 6.0, Microsoft Platform SDK, Symbian Series 60, Carbide, .Net, Codewarrior, Visual Studio, Win32 SDK, PocketPC 2003/5.0 SDK, SmartPhone 5.0 SDK, XML etc. MSSQL Database Server (Web), Symbian Native Database (Mobile), DB Clustering, DB Optimization, Master Slave Replication, Query Optimization, Scheduler for Backups
Manpower Project Leader
1
Developers
5
Designers
2
Quality Assurance Testers
2
Planning Taking into consideration the functionality of the server, the following approach was charted out and development method was planned for.
Web Server using HTTP protocol for communication. Mobile clients that used: BTNode (Bluetooth stack) for mobile device access and packet based UDP/IP for GPRS. Windows Desktop clients used TCP/IP for web server to communicate with BTNode if PC is Bluetooth enabled. Third party SMS and MMS gateway to support SMS and MMS ads.
Architecture The core component of the system was the web server that provided quality location based services. This would make it possible to configure and monitor the entire system. Centralized monitoring of the system would also be possible. The web server would also enable centralized monitoring of security. A Windows server was configured and equipped with a number of BTNodes. The data from mobile devices get routed via the BTNodes to the web server and can be accessed from the third party applications. The server was designed in such a way that it could keep track of the mobile users in order to display personalized and location based content advertisements when clients access services via Bluetooth and GPRS. Mobile clients would use Bluetooth stack and UDP/IP packets for GPRS. .Net pages were used for server and database interactions. System was integrated with third party SMS and MMS gateways to supports ads. The web server would compose the SMS and MMS and send it to the respective gateway to ensure performance and efficiency.