Mobile Services (ST 2014)

Mobile Services are usually offered over a mobile communications network like UMTS and requested from mobile devices like ordinary mobile phones, smartphones, or laptops. Compared to conventional information and communication services as known from the Fixed Internet, Mobile Services are exposed to several restrictions, for example, limited bandwidth and increased latency, reduced computational power and memory of mobile devices, changing network addresses as a result of the users’ mobility, and many more. On the other hand, however, they open up a broad range of new and sophisticated applications in areas such as navigation, context-awareness, or ubiquitous and pervasive computing, to name only a few.

This course starts with a brief introduction into the fundamentals of mobile services and a short overview of underlying network infrastructures such as GSM, UMTS, and other systems. This includes a short discussion about the particular problems these networks imply and a general overview of the special features they offer, for example, regarding the different types of mobility support and associated mechanisms. After that, the course introduces different service platforms and infrastructures and demonstrates their realization and operation. The following topics are covered:

• Types of mobility and overview of mobile service classes
• GSM/UMTS/LTE Overview
• SMS and MMS
• Mobile Internet and Web
• iPhone and Android Apps and Marketplaces
• IMS Services
• Advanced Services (Mobile Payment, Mobile Instant Messaging and Presence,…)
• Location-based Services

The course concludes with an overview and discussion of latest trends and developments.

This course is offered as compulsory course (Wahlpflichtfach) to master and diploma students of the following programs:

• Computer Science (Informatik)
• Computer Engineering (Technische Informatik)

An oral examination is offered, which lasts between 20 and 30 minutes. For the exam, it is required to register via the QISPOS system. The examination is rated as failed in cases of absence without valid excuse. This does not have an impact on possibly contradicting rules of the respective examination regulation.

• Dr. Sandro Rodriguez Garzon [1]

• Alby, T. (2008). Das Mobile Web. Hanser
• Kamal, R. (2008). Mobile Computing. Oxford University Press
• Küpper, A. (2005). Location-based Services - Fundamentals and Operation. John Wiley & Sons
• Mehta, N. (2008). Mobile Web Development. Packt Publishing
• Sauter, M. (2011). From GSM to LTE. John Wiley & Sons