Architecture of Mobile eLearning ServicesIvan Minov, Stanimir Stoyanov

Overview

• InfoStation Architecture

• General architecture

• Supporting agent

• Push Registry

• Types of agents in InfoStation

Mobile Devices(with Intelligent Agents acting

as Personal Assistants formobile users)

(with Profile Managers)

LaptopCellularphone

PDA

(with up-to-date copies ofuser/service profiles)

Second tier: InfoStations

InfoStation CenterFirst tier:

Third tier:

-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.

InfoStation architecture

General architecture

The architecture of multi agent support of InfoStation for an access to the eLearning services.

Bluetooth/WiFi Bluetooth/WiFi TCP/IP TCP/IP

Personal Agent Support Connection Agents Support Connection Agents

A3 agents A3 agentsUser Interface

eLearning Services eLearning Service

Mobile Device InfoStation InfoStation Center

Interface Agents Interface Agents

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.

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.

Mobil Device with PushRegistry

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.

ManualActivationby user

Paused Active

Destroyed

Activate

InboundConnection(MIDP 2.0)

Timer-based Alert(MIDP 2.0)

startApp()

pauseApp()

new()

destroyApp() destroyApp()

Activation Methods

PushRegistry activation

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.

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.

request

Agent and

Service level

Blue-tooth Agent level

Support Agent level

Create conn

Create agent and give it connection

Communication betweenagents in InfoStation

Mobile Device

INFO

STATION

Bluetooth service and address

Scanner Agent

List with device

Filtered devicesConnection

Adviser Agent

DB

Connection Initiator Agent

Bluetooth API

Connection Agent

Send Thread

Query Manager

Agent

Simple Service

Interface Agents

A3 Agents

Receive Thread

Our protocol

ACL messages

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.

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.

Thank you for your attention!