Transcript Platform independent design of mobile applications

Platform Independent Design of Mobile
Applications
WIM Workshop 2004
Teemu Ihalainen
Information Technology Research Institute
University of Jyväskylä, Finland
E-mail: [email protected]
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
1
Overview
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Introduction
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Design methods and tools analysis
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Platforms and operating systems analysis
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Results and a brief summary
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
2
Introduction
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Mobile data-enabled devices have become increasingly
popular within last few years
Fast development of technologies
Usually very device specific solutions
Platform = Series60, 80, 90, UIQ 2.0, 2,1 and java (J2ME)
Platform independent design = A design solution that can be
implemented to different platforms
Mobile application = non-standalone (wireless link) software
running on portable device
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
3
Mobile Applications Design
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Wireless connection to network
– Availability of network (adapt)
– Reliability of network (recover)
Communication properties (GPRS, Bluetooth etc.)
Usage model: One or two handed, or both
Limited input and output properties (display, keys etc.)
Limited battery life
Limited processing power
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
4
Motivation for Independent Design
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Heterogeneity of mobile terminals
– Many combinations of operating systems and platforms
– Devices properties may vary significantly
-> Need for porting, modifying, redesigning
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Heterogeity of mobile
terminals
Fast development
– Fast cycle of devices
– Old designs mainly useless
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General trend of design
Fast development
Platform and operating system independent
design of mobile applications
– Ambitions of MDA and SysML
General trend of design
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
5
Design Methods and Tools
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Open Distributed Processing (ODP)
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Closer to a framework than a method
Five viewpoints to approach the design problems
Platform independent, but too abstract for direct use
Mobility: Good abstract, but some problems with connectivity
Model Driven Architecture (MDA, OMG standard)
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Three levels of models
Utilises other OMG standards, such as UML (2.0)
Problematic, cause “accidental complexity” (D. Thomas)
Abstract level models are platform independent
Mobility: Shares the problems of ODP and UML
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
6
Design Methods and Tools
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Unified Modelling language (UML 1.0)
– A modelling tool, but also a suitcase of design instruments
– Platform dependency increases with level of detail
– Mobility: Lacking proper means to model connectivity
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MetaEdit+
– Commercial meta-modelling tool
– “create your own, domain specific modelling language”
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Design patterns
– Mobility patterns
– Platform independency vary by pattern (i.e. Java patterns)
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
7
Platforms and Symbian Operating System
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Symbian
– Open, defines four system definition categories
• Common S, Common R, optional S and optional R
– No UI (or only developer UI)
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Series 60
– Nokia smartphone platform for Symbian based devices
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Series 80 and Series 90
– Nokia Communicator and mediaphone platforms
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UIQ
– Symbian based smartphone platform
– Differences to Series 60: UI (Ideally 20%)
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
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Java Platform
Java application
Java Profile
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Java 2 Micro Edition J2ME
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Platform independent?
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Virtual machine provides platform independence
Java Configuration
Host OS and platform
– Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC)
– Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP)
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How underlying system affects the virtual machine and,
thus, the java application?
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
9
Other Operating Systems
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Microsoft Windows Mobile
– Version 2002 divided: PocketPC and Smartphone
– Version 2003 combined(?)
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.NET and CF frameworks
– Platform independence through server processing
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Palm OS
– OS for PDA’s and PDA-like smartphones
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Linux
– Offers very differently open operating system
– “Hobbyists toy”, some commercial terminals (Sharp Zaurus)
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
10
Results
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A model for designing platform independent mobile
applications indicating:
– Assessment of design methods and tools for mobile applications
design
– What are the design decisions that make a design platform
dependent and how to avoid them?
– What properties of specific platform designer should take account
when designing a mobile application for it?
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Master’s thesis in information systems science
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
11
References
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ISO/IEC 10746-1:1998. Open Distributed Processing (ODP)
Reference model: Overview
Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME), http://java.sun.org
Microsoft developer network, http://www.msdn.com
Model Driven Architecture (MDA), http://www.omg.org/mda/
Mobile Internet Technical Architecture, MITA. (2002)
Series 60 platform, http://www.series60.com
Symbian developer network, http://www.symbian.com
Thomas D. (2004) MDA: Modellers revenge or UML utopia?
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
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Thank you
Questions?
University of Jyväskylä
MODPA
26.08.2004
13