Tutorial 5

Software for the Wireless Internet: Where does Java Fit in? 
Instructors: 
Nasser Barghouti, PhD

ONEWORLD Software Solutions, Inc.
Who Should Attend: 
Intended audience- Beginners or intermediary level.

 
Prerequisites:
No knowledge of wireless systems is assumed. Knowledge of
the Java platform is required, but no knowledge of J2ME is assumed.

 
Benefits:
This tutorial aims to enhance the audiencešs understanding of the fundamentals by presenting an overview of the wireless technologies landscape and positioning new software technologies within that landscape. The tutorial will then focus on Java, especially J2ME and how it fits into this landscape. The various components of J2ME are introduced, followed by a survey of whošs who in the wireless market place, and which ones have committed to Java will be presented as well.

 
Outline:
1/2 day
  • Introduction to Pervasive Computing 
    • a. The Wireless Internet and the Mobile Web
    • b. A Reference Software Architecture for Pervasive Computing
  •  Overview of Wireless Networking Layer 
    • a. The Basics: Electromagnetic Radio Waves
    • b. The Three Generations of Wireless Technologies (Analog, Digital, 3G)
  •  Specificity of Software for Wireless Devices 
    • a. Bandwidth
    • b. Mobility and Locality
    • c. CPU and Battery Limitations
    • d. Display and User Interface Limitations
    • e. Noise, Bit Error and Jitter
    • f. Storage Capacity Limitations
  • 4. A Roadmap of Software Technologies for Wireless Devices 
    • a. Bluetooth
    • b. WAP/WML
    • c. Windows CE and .NET Mobility
    • d. Symbia EPOC Operating System
    • e. Palm OS
    • f. Short Messaging System (SMS)
  • 5. J2ME and How It Fits Into the Roadmap
  • 6. Sun's KVM and other Competing Technologies from HP, Microsoft
  • 7. Java Micro Edition in the Market Place
    •

 
Abstract:
The growth in the wireless market has been spectacular, and most strategists predict that by 2002, the number of mobile phones will exceed the number of PCs and televisions combined. It is no secret that the demand for software solutions for wireless devices is a major driver for
this growth, and is in many ways a determining factor for whether or not this predicted growth materializes. Unfortunately, the hype surrounding the wireless and mobile Internet has been dizzying and tens of new acronyms have been pushed on us, including m-web, wireless web, m-commerce, 3G, Wideband CDMA, WAP, Bluetooth, J2ME, PDA. Understanding the fundamentals behind the hype is essential for software professionals to be able to focus on building innovative and robust software systems within, and on top of, the rapidly developing wireless communication infrastructure that is so pervasive in our day-to-day lives.