Chapter One: Introduction to Wireless Mobile Computing

1.1Introduction

The rapidly expanding technology of cellular communication, wireless LANs, and satellite
services will make information accessible anywhere and at any time. 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. Not only are mobile devices getting smaller, cheaper,
more convenient, and more powerful, they also run more applications and network services. All
of these factors are fueling the explosive growth of the mobile computing equipment market seen
today. In coming years, it seems inevitable that mobile computing will flourish and evolve
toward integrated, converged fourth generation wireless technology.

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. Mobility and portability will create an entire
new class of applications and, possibly, new massive markets combining personal computing and
consumer electronics.

1.2Definition of Mobile Computing

Users with portable computers still have network connections while they move

A simple definition could be: Mobile Computing is using a computer (of one kind or another)
while on the move

Another definition could be: Mobile Computing is when a (work) process is moved from a
normal fixed position to a more dynamic position.

A third definition could be: Mobile Computing is when a work process is carried out
somewhere where it was not previously possible.

Mobile Computing is an umbrella term used to describe technologies that enable people to
access network services anyplace, anytime, and anywhere.
 1.3Meaning of Mobile

From the Latin mobilis - “to move” “able to move freely or easily” “able or willing to move
freely or easily between occupations, places of residence and social classes”. That someone
/something can move or be moved easily and quickly from place to place

1.4Mobile device

Mobile, wireless or cellular phone – a portable, handheld communications device connected to a

wireless network that allows users to make:

I. voice calls,
II. send text messages and
III. run applications.

1.5why mobile?

I. one handed use

II. limited (input, processing, battery life)
III. rich (sensors, usage)
IV. small!
V. truly ubiquitous

1.6History of Wireless

Guglielmo Marconi invented the wireless telegraph in 1896.1 In 1901, he sent telegraphic
signals across the Atlantic Ocean from Cornwall to St. John's Newfoundland; a distance of about
3200 km. His invention allowed two parties to communicate by sending each other alphanumeric
characters encoded in an analog signal. Over the last century, advances in wireless technologies
have led to the radio, the television, the mobile telephone, and communications satellites. All
types of information can now be sent to almost every corner of the world. Recently, a great deal
of attention has been focused on satellite communications, wireless networking, and cellular
technology.
 Communications satellites were first launched in the 1960s. Those first satellites could only
handle 240 voice circuits. Today, satellites carry about one-third of the voice traffic and all of the
television signals between countries. Modern satellites typically introduce a quarter-second
propagation delay to the signals they handle. Newer satellites in lower orbits, with less inherent
signal delay, have been deployed to provide data services such as Internet access.

Wireless networking is allowing businesses to develop WANs, MANs, and LANs without a
cable plant. The IEEE has developed 802.11 as a standard for wireless LANs. The Bluetooth
industry consortium is also working to provide a seamless wireless networking technology.

The cellular or mobile telephone is the modern equivalent of Marconi's wireless telegraph,
offering two-party, two-way communication. The first-generation wireless phones used analog
technology. These devices were heavy and coverage was patchy, but they successfully
demonstrated the inherent convenience of mobile communications. The current generation of
wireless devices is built using digital technology. Digital networks carry much more traffic and
provide better reception and security than analog networks. In addition, digital technology has
made possible value-added services such as caller identification. Newer wireless devices connect
to the Internet using frequency ranges that support higher information rates.

1.6.1 The Cellular revolution

The cellular revolution is apparent in the growth of the mobile phone market alone. In 1990,
the number of users was approximately 11 million [ECON99]. Today, that number is in the
billions. According to the lTD (International Telecommunications Dnion),3 the number of
mobile phones worldwide outnumbered fixed-line phones for the first time in 2002. The newer
generation devices, with access to the Internet and built-in digital cameras, add to this
momentum. There are a number of reasons for the increasing dominance of mobile phones.
Mobile phones are convenient; they move with people. In addition, by their nature, they are
location aware. A mobile phone communicates with regional base stations that are at fixed
locations.

Technical innovations have contributed to the success of mobile phones. The handsets have
become smaller and lighter, battery life has increased, and digital technology has improved
reception and allowed better use of a finite spectrum. As with many types of digital equipment,
the costs associated with mobile telephones have been decreasing. In areas where competition
flourishes, prices have dropped dramatically since 1996.

In many geographic areas, mobile telephones are the only economical way to provide phone
service to the population. Operators can erect base stations quickly and inexpensively when
compared with digging up ground to lay copper in harsh terrain. Mobile telephones are only the
tip of the cellular revolution. Increasingly, new types of wireless devices are being introduced.
These new devices have access to the Internet. They include personal organizers and telephones,
but now they have Web access, instant messaging, e-mail, and other services available on the
Internet. Wireless devices in automobiles allow users to download maps and directions on
demand. Soon, the devices may be able to call for help when an accident has occurred or perhaps
notify the user of the lowest-priced fuel in the immediate area. Other conveniences will be
available as well. For example, refrigerators may one day be able to order groceries over the
Internet to replace consumed items.

The first rush to wireless was for voice. Now, the attention is on data. A big part of this
market is the "wireless" Internet. Wireless users use the Internet differently than fixed users.
Wireless devices have limited displays and input capabilities compared with typical fixed
devices such as the Pc. Transactions and messaging will be the rule instead of lengthy browsing
sessions. Because wireless devices are location aware, information can be tailored to the
geographic location of the user. Information will be able to find users, instead of users searching
for information.

1.6.2 The Global cellular network

Today there is no single cellular network. Devices support one or two of a myriad of
technologies and generally work only within the confines of a single operator's network. To
move beyond this model, more work must be done to define and implement standards. The lTD
is working to develop a family of standards for the next-generation wireless devices. The new
standards will use higher frequencies to increase capacity. The new standards will also help
overcome the incompatibilities introduced as the different first- and second-generation networks
were developed and deployed over the last decade.
 The dominant first-generation digital wireless network in North America was the Advanced
Mobile Phone System (AMPS). This network offers a data service using the Cellular Digital
Packet Data (CDPD) overlay network, which provides a 19.2-kbps data rate. The CPDP uses idle
periods on regular voice channels to provide the data service. The key second-generation
wireless systems are the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Personal
Communications Service (PCS) IS-136, and PCS IS-95. The PCS standard IS-136 uses time
division multiple access (TDMA) while IS-95 uses code division multiple access (CDMA). The
GSM and PCS IS-136 use dedicated channels at 9.6 kbps to deliver the data service. The ITU is
developing International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT2000). This family of standards
is intended to provide a seamless global network. The standards are being developed around the
2-GHz frequency band. The new standards and frequency band will provide data rates up to 2
Mbps. In addition to defining frequency usage, encoding techniques, and transmission, standards
also need to define how mobile devices will interact with the Internet. Several standards bodies
and industry consortiums are working to that end. The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)
Forum is developing a common protocol that allows devices with limited display and input
capabilities to access the Internet. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is developing a
mobile IP standard that adapts the ubiquitous IP protocol to work within a mobile environment.

1.7comparison to wired and wireless networks

Following table compares Wired network vs Wireless network and mentions difference between
wired network and wireless network types.

Specifications Wired network Wireless network

lower compare to wired

networks, But advanced
wireless technologies such as
LTE, LTE-A and WLAN-11ad
will make it possible to
achieve speed par equivalent to
Speed of operation Higher wired network
 Low, as Frequency Spectrum
System Bandwidth High is very scares resource

More as wireless subscriber

stations, wireless routers,
wireless access points and
Cost Less as cables are not expensive adapters are expensive

Wired network installation is cumbersome Wireless network installation

Installation and it requires more time is easy and it requires less time

Limited, as it operates in the area covered Not limited, as it operates in

by connected systems with the wired the entire wireless network
Mobility network coverage

Transmission EM waves or radio waves or

medium copper wires, optical fiber cables, Ethernet infrared

More area is covered by

Network coverage requires hubs and switches for network wireless base stations which
extension coverage limit extension are connected to one another.

WLAN, WPAN(ZigBee,
Bluetooth), Infrared,
Applications LAN (Ethernet), MAN Cellular(GSM,CDMA, LTE)

Interference is higher due to

obstacles between wireless
Channel transmitter and receiver e.g.
Interference and Interference is less as one wired network weather conditions, reflection
signal power loss will not affect the other from walls, etc.
 QoS (Quality of Poor due to high value of jitter
Service) Better and delay in connection setup

High compare to wireless counterpart, as

manufactured cables have higher Reasonably high, This is due
performance due to existence of wired to failure of router will affect
Reliability technology since years. the entire network.

1.8Types of Wireless Devices

Wireless devices mean the things of modern technology that we can use without wires. These
wireless devices help us in broadcasting any kind of function. People can watch these festivals
online or live streaming. In the past radio helps us to listen to news that what’s happening around
the world then we invented television and electronic media. These methods are going to change
with the passage of time. Below is the list of some devices used in wireless:

 Laptops

 Palmtops: A small computer that literally fits in your palm. Compared to full-size
computers, palmtops are severely limited, but they are practical for certain functions such
as phone books and calendars. Palmtops that use a pen rather than a keyboard for input
are often called hand-held computers or PDAs. Because of their small size, most palmtop
computers do not include disk drives. However, many contain PCMCIA slots in which
you can insert disk drives, modems, memory, and other devices.

 PDAs: Short for personal digital assistant, a handheld device that combines computing,
telephone/fax, Internet and networking features. A typical PDA can function as a cellular
phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer. PDAs may also be referred to as
a palmtop, hand-held computer or pocket computer.

 Cell phones
  Pagers: A pager is a very simple radio that listens to just one station all of the time. A
radio transmitter broadcasts signals over a specific frequency. All of the pagers for that
particular network have a built-in receiver that is tuned to the same frequency broadcast
from the transmitter. The pagers listen to the signal from the transmitter constantly as
long as the pager is turned on. Each pager has a specific identification sequence called a
Channel Access Protocol (CAP) code. The pager listens for its unique CAP code. When it
hears the code, it alerts the user and may provide additional information, depending on
the pager type.

 Sensors: Sensors are sophisticated devices that are frequently used to detect and respond
to electrical or optical signals. A Sensor converts the physical parameter (for example:
temperature, blood pressure, humidity, speed, etc.) into a signal which can be measured
electrically. Let’s explain the example of temperature. The mercury in the glass
thermometer expands and contracts the liquid to convert the measured temperature which
can be read by a viewer on the calibrated glass tube.

1.9Importance of Software

The economies of ALL developed nations are dependent on software. More and more
systems are software controlled. Software engineering is concerned with theories, methods and
tools for professional software development.

Software costs often dominate computer system costs. The costs of software on a PC are
often greater than the hardware cost. Software costs more to maintain than to develop. For
systems with a long life, maintenance costs may be several times development costs. Software
engineering is concerned with cost-effective software development.

1.10 Money on Mobile

Apple makes about $1B in profit annually from the App Store. Google did $17.5M in May
on $350M in revenue ($210M profit on $4.2B revenue annualized). However, Google’s real
mobile monetization is through mobile ads (roughly $8B annual revenue as of 2015). Apple’s
real monetization is through first party hardware sales (roughly $160B annualized revenue and
$40B profit as of Q2 2013, of which the majority comes from iPhone and iPad sales).
 Samsung actually is the party that was making real money from Android hardware sales,
toting up an impressive $8.3B in profit on $50B in revenue in Q2 2013 alone. Thus right now the
revenue from the mobile hardware buildout currently leads that from the software buildout by a
significant margin. It’s almost tautological that this is the case - one needs devices in people’s
hands before one can install software - but this lag still means significant opportunity.

The design process for mobile apps is different:

 The User Interface is vital

 Responsiveness is critical
 Wireless Communications networks are
unreliable
 User sessions are short and ‘bursty’
Chapter Two: Communication Networks

A communication network is the pattern of directions in which information flows in the

organization. Channels of communication (networks by which information flows) are either
formal networks or informal networks. Formal networks follow the authority chain and are
limited to task-related communications. The informal network (grapevine) is free to move in any
direction, skip authority levels, and is as likely to satisfy group members' social needs as it is to
facilitate task accomplishments.

2.1 Types of Communication Networks

Communication Networks can be of following 5 types:

1. Local Area Network (LAN)

2. Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
3. Wide Area Network (WAN)
4. Wireless
5. Inter Network (Internet)

2.1.1 Local Area Network (LAN)

It is also called LAN and designed for small physical areas such as an office, group of buildings
or a factory. LANs are used widely as it is easy to design and to troubleshoot. Personal
 computers and workstations are connected to each other through LANs. We can use different
types of topologies through LAN, these are Star, Ring, Bus, Tree etc.

LAN can be a simple network like connecting two computers, to share files and network among
each other while it can also be as complex as interconnecting an entire building.

LAN networks are also widely used to share resources like printers, shared hard-drive etc.

2.1.1.1 Characteristics of LAN

 LAN's are private networks, not subject to tariffs or other regulatory controls.
 LAN's operate at relatively high speed when compared to the typical WAN.
 There are different types of Media Access Control methods in a LAN, the prominent ones
are Ethernet, Token ring.
 It connects computers in a single building, block or campus, i.e. they work in a restricted
geographical area.

2.1.1.2 Applications of LAN

 One of the computer in a network can become a server serving all the remaining
computers called clients. Software can be stored on the server and it can be used by the
remaining clients.
  Connecting Locally all the workstations in a building to let them communicate with each
other locally without any internet access.
 Sharing common resources like printers etc are some common applications of LAN.

2.1.1.3 Advantages of LAN

 Resource Sharing: Computer resources like printers, modems, DVD-ROM drives and
hard disks can be shared with the help of local area networks. This reduces cost and
hardware purchases.
 Software Applications Sharing: It is cheaper to use same software over network instead
of purchasing separate licensed software for each client a network.
 Easy and Cheap Communication: Data and messages can easily be transferred over
networked computers.
 Centralized Data: The data of all network users can be saved on hard disk of the server
computer. This will help users to use any workstation in a network to access their data.
Because data is not stored on workstations locally.
 Data Security: Since, data is stored on server computer centrally, it will be easy to
manage data at only one place and the data will be more secure too.
 Internet Sharing: Local Area Network provides the facility to share a single internet
connection among all the LAN users. In Net Cafes, single internet connection sharing
system keeps the internet expenses cheaper.

2.1.1.4 Disadvantages of LAN

 High Setup Cost: Although the LAN will save cost over time due to shared computer
resources, but the initial setup costs of installing Local Area Networks is high.
 Privacy Violations: The LAN administrator has the rights to check personal data files of
each and every LAN user. Moreover, he can check the internet history and computer use
history of the LAN user.
 Data Security Threat: Unauthorized users can access important data of an organization
if centralized data repository is not secured properly by the LAN administrator.
 LAN Maintenance Job: Local Area Network requires a LAN Administrator because,
there are problems of software installations or hardware failures or cable disturbances in
Local Area Network. A LAN Administrator is needed at this full time job.
 Covers Limited Area: Local Area Network covers a small area like one office, one
building or a group of nearby buildings.

 Traditional

o Traditional local area network (LAN)

o Traditional wide area network (WAN)

 Higher-speed

o High-speed local area network (LAN)

o Metropolitan area network (MAN)

o High-speed wide area network (WAN)

 2.2 Characteristics of WANs

Wide area network is collection of different local area networks, connect different LAN and
WAN with each other, typically contain a country or region. Internet is the biggest example of
wide area network. WAN include ISP cloud which have high speed links, branch offices
connected with ISDN, ATM, BRI/PRI, E1/T1, Frame-relay etc. So WAN is running with large
variety of protocols and providing different services. WAN communication subnet can use
the public packet-switched networks, satellite communication networks and wireless packet
switching network.

WAN have the following characteristics:

 Large capacity and adapt to sudden communication requirements, to adapt to the

requirements of integrated business services, open and standardized protocol device
interface and improve communications services and network management.
 The data rates of WAN is low as compare to data transfer rate of local area network, and the
signal propagation delay is much greater than the local area network. The typical data rates
for WAN are 56kbps to 155Mbps, 622Mbps, 2.4 Gbps or higher speed WAN.

2.2.1 WAN Equipment:

Some of famous and common WAN connection devices include:

 Routers provide services such as LAN interconnection, WAN interface, and many other
services.

 Switches connect the WAN and provide voice, data and video communications.

 Modems provide voice grade service interface; channel service units are T1/E2 service
interface.

 The Communication Server brings together users incoming and outgoing connections.
2.2.2 WAN Structure:

WAN is composed by a number of switches, routers, point to point line connections and also
running the different protocols. Point to point communication methods can be used to create a
wide area network, including leased lines, fiber optic, microwave, satellite channel. WAN can
provide connection-oriented and connectionless two modes of service and WAN networking.

 Covers large geographical areas

 Circuits provided by a common carrier

 Consists of interconnected switching nodes

 Traditional WANs provide modest capacity

 64000 bps common

 Business subscribers using T-1 service – 1.544 Mbps common

 Higher-speed WANs use optical fiber and transmission technique known as

asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)

 10s and 100s of Mbps common