Architecture of Mobile eLearning Services

1. Architecture of Mobile eLearning Services Ivan Minov, Stanimir Stoyanov

2. Overview • InfoStation Architecture • General architecture • Supporting agent • Push Registry • Types of agents in InfoStation

3. InfoStation architecture • The First Tier of the network architecture encompasses mobile devices (cellular phones, laptops and PDAs), equipped with intelligent agents that act as personal assistants for the users. • The Second Tier consists of InfoStations, deployed around a University Campus, and faciliates the mobile users’ access to the eLearning services. • -The Third Tier is the InfoStation Center itself. Its main functions are to: control the InfoStations, update and synchronize information across the system, manage different types of profiles.

4. Mobile Device InfoStation InfoStation Center eLearning Services eLearning Service Interface Agents Interface Agents User Interface A3 agents A3 agents Personal Agent Support Connection Agents Support Connection Agents Bluetooth/WiFi Bluetooth/WiFi TCP/IP TCP/IP General architecture The architecture of multi agent support of InfoStation for an access to the eLearning services.

5. Supporting Agents • We have to define different types of InfoStation support agents. • Two basic agent classes: • Bluetooth agents; • WiFi agents. • Development of Bluetooth agents: • First step – simulation; • Second step – real mobile devices.

6. JADE (Java Agent DEvelopment Framework) • JADE is a software Framework fully implemented in Java language by T-Lab. • It simplifies the implementation of multi-agent systems through a middle-ware that complies with the FIPA specifications. • The agent platform can be distributed across machines (which not even need to share the same OS). • it’s open source.

7. Mobil Device with PushRegistry PushRegistry activation Manual Activation by user Inbound Connection (MIDP 2.0) Timer- based Alert (MIDP 2.0) Activation Methods Activate new() startApp() Paused Active pauseApp() destroyApp() destroyApp() Destroyed The push registry enables MIDlets to set themselves up to be launched automatically, without user initiation. PushRegistry allows to be activated MIDlet: • By inbound network connections • By timer-based alarms Our mobile application will use activation through inbound network connection.

8. What we have on the mobile device? • Our application that registers a Bluetooth service with PushRegistry. • Personal agent that is not a part of JADE.(Now its development is in background) • Possibility for visualization of data received by InfoStation.

9. Types of agents in InfoStation • Agent support Bluetooth connection: • Scanner Agent; • Connection Initiator Agent; • Connection Agent. • Support agent: • Query Manager Agent; • Connection Adviser Agent. • Agent and Service: • Simple Service; • Interface Agent.

10. Communication betweenagents in InfoStation Our protocol Mobile Device Bluetooth service and address I N F O S T A T I O N Create conn Receive Thread Send Thread Connection Agent Connection Initiator Agent Scanner Agent Blue-tooth Agent level Bluetooth API ACL messages Create agent and give it connection List with device request Support Agent level Query Manager Agent Connection Adviser Agent Filtered devices Agent and Service level A3Agents DB Simple Service Interface Agents

11. Working on • Prototype version of: • InfoStation agents and communication between them; • Bluetooth support of InfoStation; • Communication protocol with mobile device; • Mobile application using Push Registry.

12. Future Plans • Advance in support of the Bluetooth located in the InfoStation. • Development of the communication protocol between InfoStation and a mobile device. • Advance in the Agent and Service level. • Adding WiFi communication, like Bluetooth. • Test under real conditions.

13. Thank you for your attention!