Evaluating Interface Design Choices on WAP Phones: Navigation and Selection

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) phones are a growing relevant part of the mobile market, and the number of WAP services offered is rapidly increasing. Usability is crucial for these services, which must be easily operated on small screens and keyboards. Unfortunately, there are very few published studies on the evaluation of WAP devices and services on users. This paper presents a user study that evaluates two important interface design choices for WAP services (implementation of single-choice selection, and navigation among the different cards of a WAP site), neither of which has been investigated thoroughly in the literature or in design practice.     

WAP的技术与应用

ＷＡＰ技术就是手机上网技术,是目前发展得很快的一种无线通讯和国际互联网技术,本文详细地介绍了ＷＡＰ技术发展及其应用趋向。这些技术包括传输协议、网站架构、应用特点以及基于ＷＡＰ的网页设计范例。     

Mobile commerce: a new frontier

Electronic commerce continues to see phenomenal growth, but so far most e-commerce development involves wired infrastructures. The authors believe emerging wireless and mobile networks will provide new avenues for growth, creating new opportunities in mobile commerce. According to the GartnerGroup, a market research firm, by 2004 at least 40 percent of consumer-to-business e-commerce will come from smart phones using the wireless application protocol (WAP). Based on a study by the Wireless Data and Computing Service, a division of Strategy Analytics, the annual mobile commerce market may rise to $200 billion by 2004. The authors provide a mobile commerce framework to illustrate potential applications such as mobile inventory management, product location and search, proactive service management, and mobile entertainment. They also describe the wireless user and networking infrastructure, emerging W3C standards, and the open and global WAP specification     

From smart to autonomous phones

As smart phones offer more options, driving new applications development, we need to establish appropriate new standards. Here, we review existing related standards, focusing on two missing features that fully autonomous phones will require. The common Java standard for building enterprise class applications is the Java 2 platform, Enterprise Edition. J2EE supports a rich set of APIs, and many vendors provide implementations of those APIs for programming Web services.     

Experiment on and analysis of mobile content transformation using XSLT

Much attention is being paid to the services that are accessed via the Internet from mobile phones and PDAs. For such mobile Internet services, the WAP Forum issued the WAP 2.0 standard based on IETF/W3C standards. WAP 2.0 adopted the subset of eXtensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) standardized by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), as its markup language. The i‐mode service in Japan was launched in February 1999, and has acquired over 40 million users, as of January 2004. The markup language adopted in the i‐mode service is called i‐mode HTML, and was designed around Compact HTML. To ease the migration from i‐mode HTML to the WAP 2.0 markup language, the functional compatibility of the languages should be assured. To this end, we proposed functions unique to i‐mode HTML to the WAP Forum. The WAP Forum accepted all of our proposals. For making the migration more cost‐effective, software tools that support the transformation of i‐mode HTML content to the WAP 2.0 equivalents must be established. There are two approaches to content transformation: software‐based and rule‐based. Since the software‐based approach has some drawbacks such as a lack of extensibility and a lack of accountability, we have taken the rule‐based approach. We focused on eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) as the content transformation technique, because XSLT has been standardized by W3C for rule‐based transformation between XML contents. To technically verify the applicability of XSLT for content transformation from i‐mode HTML to the WAP 2.0 markup language, we performed an extensive XSLT transformation experiment using existing i‐mode service contents. In this paper, we describe content transformation using XSLT, overview the content transformation system, and analyze the results of the content transformation experiment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于语义关联和结构分析的WEB到WAP转换器的研究

随着3G移动通信等无线传输技术的迅猛发展,越来越多的用户开始利用无线设备上网获取所需信息。现有的WEB系统信息量大、费流量,版面复杂,不利于手机浏览。作为面向无线环境定制的一套协议,WAP解决了以上问题。而针对所有现有互联网信息重新构造WAP系统将花费大量的人力物力。本文通过构造一种有效的WEB到WAP的转换机制来实现现有互联网系统向手机应用的迁移,包括网页分块、广告去噪、语义关联、页面重组等步骤,这一解决方案保证了转换后内容的连贯与页面布局的合理。通过实验证明是一种行之有效的转换机制。     

A NEW DISTRIBUTED PLATFORM FOR CLIENT-SIDE FUSION OF WEB APPLICATIONS AND NATURAL MODALITIES—A MULTIMODAL WEB PLATFORM

Web-based solutions and interfaces should be easy, more intuitive, and should also adapt to the natural and cognitive information processing and presentation capabilities of humans. Today, human-controlled multimodal systems with multimodal interfaces are possible. They allow for a more natural and more advanced exchange of information between man and machine. The fusion of web-based solutions with natural modalities is therefore an effective solution for users who would like to access services and web content in a more natural way. This article presents a novel multimodal web platform (MWP) that enables flexible migration from traditionally closed and purpose-oriented multimodal systems to the wider scope offered by web applications. The MWP helps to overcome problems of interoperability, compatibility, and integration that usually accompany migrations from standard (task-oriented) applications to web-based solutions and multiservice networks, thus enabling the enrichment of general web-based user interfaces with several advanced natural modalities in order to communicate and exchange information. The MWP is a system in which all modules are embedded within generic network-based architecture. When using it, the fusion of user front ends with new modalities requires as little intervention to the code of the web application as possible. The fusion is implemented within user front ends and retains the web-application code and its functionalities intact.     

网络服务与简单对象访问协议

网络服务是基于网络的分布式应用程序的基本构造模块，这些程序是以平台，对象模型和多语言方式构建的，SOAP技术通过一种基于XML的，平台无关的方式集成现有的网络服务到应用程序中，它有助于实现大量异构程序与平台之间的互操作性，首先简要介绍网络服务的定义，以及建立基于网络的分布式应用程序所要解决的基本技术问题，然后说明SOAP是如何克服存在技术，（如CORBA和DCOM）的许多缺陷；最后通过一个实例，描述怎样通过SOAP调用现有的网络服务。     

Critical factors of WAP services adoption: an empirical study

Mobile commerce is becoming increasingly important in business. Wireless application protocol (WAP) is one of the most widespread technical standards for mobile commerce. Following continuous technical evolution, WAP has now included various new features. However, WAP services continue to struggle for market share. Hence, understanding the adoption of WAP services is increasingly important for enterprises interested in developing mobile commerce. This study aims to: (i) identify the critical factors of WAP services adoption; (ii) explore the relative importance of each factor between WAP adopters and non-adopters; and (iii) examine the causal relationships among variables on WAP services adoption behavior. This study reports empirical test of the adoption of WAP services in Taiwan, based on the theory of planned behavior and innovation diffusion theory. The results indicate that the critical factors influencing the adoption of WAP services include connection speed, service costs, user satisfaction, personal innovativeness, ease of use, peer influence, and facilitating conditions. Some suggestions for subsequent researchers and practitioners seeking to understand WAP services adoption behavior are also provided.     

基于WAP的移动电子商务解决方案的研究与实现

传统的WAP网站的主要功能还只停留在新闻的浏览，信息的检索等方面，为此本文提出了构建具有电子商务功能的WAP应用程序的方法。文章首先对移动电话上网的4种方式做出了评述，并对WAP的基础语言WML以及Deck与Card等开发方式作了相应的介绍；然后，给出了构建具有电子商务功能的WAP网络应用程序的模型，并阐述了如何利用WAP开发平台“NOKIA Toolkit”开发具有电子商务功能的WAP应用程序。该网站的建立说明了在技术上实现基于移动电话的小型电子商务是可行的。     

无线远程终端系统的设计与实现

为使手机用户通过手机轻松地控制计算机,研究开发了＂无线远程终端＂系统。利用手机登录WAP网站发送指令至＂信息中转站＂,再由＂信息中转站＂把指令转发给受控计算机,指令经过计算机处理后,受控计算机再通过＂信息中转站＂将运行结果返回给手机,从而实现了一个手机无线远程控制计算机的过程。此设计方法极大地提高了程序的耦合度,方便了用户操作,能够满足用户生活中的信息化需求。     

基于WAP的网关测试器的设计与实现

分析了WAP(无线应用协议)网关的功能和特点，并设计了一个功能强大的测试器。该测试器提供了无线会话协议(WSP)层面向连接和面向非连接陌种服务的负载测试功能，实现了对WAP业务中的一些热点应用的测试：MMS(多媒体短信息服务)及WML(无线标记语言)浏览服务测试。     

基于JAI的WAP图像显示自适应性方法

针对当前WAP浏览环境下,不同型号手机要显示不同格式图片的要求,通过JAI图片转换技术,设计和实现了图片显示自适应于不同WAP手机终端的架构;并对相关性能进行了讨论和研究;该模式方法可应用于实际的WAP设计之中,架构具有一定的适应性和通用性。     

WAP协议中的安全鸿沟问题及其解决方法

对WAP环境中的应用机制作了简要的介绍，通过对这些安全机制的分析提出WAP环境中存在的安全鸿沟（Security Gap)问题。Security Gap问题，文章提出了通过设置WAP网关的位置和对WAP协议进行扩展这两种可行的解决方法，WAP协议中的Security Gap问题的解决，对于WAP技术的推广应用将是至关重要的。     

Enabling portability in advanced information-centric services over structured peer-to-peer systems

A common factor among all the existing distributed, peer-to-peer systems is their lack of genericity. Typically, information-centric services (such as range queries) are deployed ad-hoc onto a specific peer-to-peer overlay. These kinds of solutions make them probably efficient but non-portable to other peer-to-peer infrastructures, and so the services and applications constructed over them. We do believe, instead, that a peer-to-peer-generic solution is feasible. In this paper, we tackle the genericity and portability issue specifically on structured peer-to-peer networks (SPNs).To do so, we introduce a distributed 3-layer architecture, which abstracts applications (on top of the architecture) and the peer-to-peer network currently in use (in the bottom layer). Our middleware appears in the middle layer, which is responsible to address two major challenges: (i) supporting complex, multi-dimensional application data domains and (ii) performing efficiently for a wide variety of information-centric services in the large scale.Broadly speaking, information-centric services are classified as data management (such as range or spatial queries) and content distribution services (like publish/subscribe), and our middleware is an umbrella for all them. Notice that data management services are based on the pull mode (i.e., a user lookups information previously stored in the system), whilst content distribution services obey to a push mode (i.e., the system delivers the information timely to users).The benefits of our approach are clear: (i) Our middleware can be easily deployed over existing SPNs, guaranteeing the portability of a critical mass of services and end-user applications; (ii) Several services can be added to the middleware, which will facilitate the appearance of new synergies; and (iii) our middleware deals with the application data domain transparently to services and applications, including the necessary algorithms for services to be efficiently deployed into our middleware.     

基于Java的移动商务安全解决方案设计

现存的移动商务的安全解决方案一般存在3个突出问题：第1,基于WAP结构的网关瓶颈问题;第2,使用密钥管理机制的安全解决方案耗费大量的网络流量;第3,应用逻辑过于简单,不能满足用户的要求。提出的基于Java的安全解决方案模型,可以为无线网络提供端到端的安全保护。在客户端使用J2ME,服务器端使用J2EE,利用Java的组件可以在提供客户鉴别和数据机密完整性保护的同时,弥补WAP结构的不足,节省网络流量,提供适合用户的多样化使用。     

Adaptive WAP portals

Mobile Internet browsing using wireless application protocol (WAP) phones has created unique problems of its kind. One of the challenges that consumers faced is that they are only equipped with a small screen for browsing WAP contents. This makes navigating to WAP sites of interest on WAP portals a hassle. WAP portals served as consumers’ gateway to the WAP sites offered by third party content providers. These portals usually organize the list of WAP sites into a multi-level tree hierarchy structure. Often, consumers are required to navigate deep down the tree to access their favorite sites. This paper presents a prototype for making WAP portals adaptive. Such portals reduce time spend by consumers in navigation henceforth more time for content browsing. The system does not require explicit consumers’ input for adaptation but rather, they implicitly track consumers’ navigation activities among WAP sites and use these input to form the basis of consumers’ preferences for adaptation. The methods implemented are adaptive link sorting and navigation shortcuts. The system also takes into account possible drift of consumers’ interests over time and weighted computation is used to achieve adaptation that will be of relevance to consumers at any point of time. Experiments with mobile users have yield promising results.     

Cooperative computing and integrated system management: A critical comparison of architectural approaches

New information processing service structures based on client-server concepts gain growing importance in both scientific and commercial computing because theyprovide a high flexibility with respect to the positioning of building blocks of a distributed application. The price for this flexibility, however, is a more complex system management. The paper discusses the new management requirements in a cooperative computing environment. The management platforms needed in this context must provide appropriate models for cooperation, services for supporting distributed management applications and an information model as a basis for the modeling of resources relevant to system management. The paper presents and evaluates approaches to solutions existing so far in research and development.     

Vehicular mobile commerce

Growing interest in mobile commerce among users, service providers, content developers, businesses, and researchers has spawned many new applications ncluding location-based services, mobile financial services, multiparty interactive games, and mobile auctions. Most of these applications are designed to be accessible via personal digital assistants or cell phones, but handhelds have limited capabilities and are impractical or dangerous to use while driving. Increased computing and communications power, coupled with advances in wireless networking technology and the explosive growth in wireless local area network (WLAN) deployments, have the potential to enable new m-commerce applications for drivers or passengers in motor vehicles. These applications range from entertainment and business services to diagnostic and safety tools. However, for vehicular m-commerce to become a reality, researchers must address a number of technical challenges.     

Ubiquitous spatial-information services using cell phones

Conventional thinking about mobile methods for accessing the Internet is rapidly changing. The processing power of cell phones is steadily improving, and the wireless network's communication speed is increasing. Once these changes are in place, most mobile applications will give way to a third-generation (3G) cell-phone-based infrastructure. In particular, using 3G cell phones instead of conventional PCs or personal digital assistants (PDAs) will make possible ubiquitous spatial information services. These services let you use a cell phone to easily find nearby hospitals, restaurants, banks, stores, and so on. Moreover, pedestrians will be able to use cell phones to receive navigational guidance services similar to those delivered by vehicle navigation systems. In this article, we introduce real system implementations and field trials to demonstrate the potential of this integrated spatial-information services approach.