Context-aware mobile application model and determination of its role

in information systems

Rok Rupnik, Ph.D.

University of LjubljanaFaculty of Computer and Information Science

2

Overview

• Information Socitey and Mobile Applications (MA)

• Mobile Device and MA• Context and Context-Aware MA model• The Role of MA in Information System (IS)• MA Development Methodologies• Conclusions

3

Information Society

• MA are the Consequence of the Convergence Between IT and TK

• Some Information Society Characteristics point to the Importance of MA

• MA are the result and the Demand of Information Society

• European IST Projects Indicate the Importance of MA

4

Important Technologies

• GPRS– Enables on-line Connectivity

– Represents an Important Step for Interconnection of Mobile Networks and the Internet

• UMTS– Enables High Bandwidth

– Enables VPN and VHE

• Bluetooth– de facto standard for Wireless COmmunication

Between Digital Devices

• WLAN

5

Mobile Device

• Connects to the Internet over Wireless Network

• MA is Run on Mobile Device in multi-tier Architecture

• Does not Connect to the Internet over other Device

• Does not Emulate other OS Enviroment

• Mobile Devices Have Limitations

6

Mobile Application

• MA is Run on Mobile Device• The Scope of MA is to Enalbe Mobility Adpated

and Mobility Suitable Services• The Comparison of MA with Other Kind of

Applications is Unjustified

7

MA – New Application Model

• The Distinct Characteristics of MA Model are Determined by the Functions of Applications

• Input is Critical

8

New Functions of MA

• Messaging: Enables the Information Broadcasting Support in the State of Mobility

• Important Component of Messaging:– Function for Determination of Content

– Function for Determination of Triggering Moment

9

New Functions of MA (2)

• Confirming: to Offer a Context-dependant Default

• Confirming vs. Selecting

10

Context

• Classical Applications are Used in a Stable Environment

• Mobile User is not Always in a Stable Environment

• Schilit and Dey Focus on the Context of Situation and the Context of Technological Descriptions

• Those Context Definitions do not Cover the Informational Needs

11

Context (2)

• Context is Complete Information on:– The situation a mobile user is currently involved in:

context of situation which is defined by the user’s location, social situation and physical environment

– Informational needs of a mobile user which are determined by information systems’ informational needs: context of informational needs

– Technical descriptions which carry the information about the places where the user is usually present at, the information about the technical characteristics of the users’ mobile device and the information on the current state of the wireless network: context of technical descriptions

12

Context-Aware MA

• Context Determines the Content and the Triggering Moment

• Information System can Delegate Simple Tasks to the Mobile Users as Well

13

Context-awaremobile application

Context ofsituation

Context

Context ofinformational

needs

Context oftechnical

descriptions

n

n

is affected by

influences

is limittedby

n

n

n

n

Informationsystem

1

n

determines

Triggeringmoment

n

1

1

n

causes thetriggering of

Triggeringrule

determines

1

n

Meta Model of Context-Aware MA

14

Three MA Models

• Classical MA Model• Context-Aware MA Model• Distributed Context-Aware Model

15

The Role of MA in IS

• The Use of MA in IS is Justified

• It Increases the Reach and Range of IS

Range

Reach

Functionality

Standardapplications

Webapplications

Mobileapplications

16

The Organisational View of Information Support

Businesssystem

(Organization)

Organizationalunit

Organizationalrole

Person(Actor)

1..n

n

1

1..n

1

1

1..n 1..n

is granted to

is composed of

exists in

is composed of

User

Non-mobile user

Mobile user

demands only

0..n

1..n

0..n

1..n

allows

Application

uses

Legend

Classical mobileapplication

model

Context-awaremobile

applicationmodel

ActivityMobile

application

Mobikeapplication

Mobileapplication

Mobileapplication

must beinformedabout theresult of

1..n

1..n

1..n

1..n

1..n1..n

must confirmthecorrectness ofthe result of

controls

performs

17

The Process View of Information Support

Legend

Businessprocess

Activity

Condition

Transition

EventElementary

functionBusinessfunction

n

1..n

1..n

1

is composedof

{ordered}

1..nn

n

from

to

1..n

n

is executed as part of

informs about

controls

sets

0..1

0..1

1..n

1..n

initiates

1..n

1..n

1..n

Mobileapplication

can beconfirmed byinformes about

0..1 0..1

1..n 1..n

Mobileapplication

includes

0..1

1..n

Application

Mobileapplication

enablesinformationsupport of

0..1n

0..1

consistsof

1..n1..n

Mobileapplication

1..n

0..1

can beconfirmedby

Location

Locationdependant

activity

Locationindependant

activityn

1

1..n

is executed on

Classical mobileapplication

model

Context-awaremobile

applicationmodel

Mobileapplication

n

0..1

enablesinformationsupport of

18

MA and Decision Support

• The use of MA Means Better Structured Decision Support

• MA are Important, Because Decision Makers are Often Away

• The Use of MA in:– Operational Level of DS

– Tactical Level of DS

– Strategic Level of DS

19

Methodologies of MA Development• Several Authors Have Stated that

Development Methodologies Have to be Suited for MA

• The Directions of Research:– MA in the Context of IS as a Whole

– New Elements at Development: new Activities and tasks

– New Diagraming Techniques or Adaption of Existing Techniques

20

The Approach for MA Development

Analiza

Načrtovanje

Izvedba

Izdelava podatkovnega infunkcionalnega modela

Opredelitev potrebkonteksta in pravil zapošiljanje oz. proženje

Načrtovanje modulov inpodatkov

Načrtovanje konteksta inpravil za pošiljanje oz.

proženje

Implementacija MA

MOBILNAAPLIKACIJA

RA

ZŠ

IRJE

NR

EP

OZ

ITO

RIJ

kontrolni tok

podatkovni tok

Procesnimodel uporabe

MA

Organizacijskimodel uporabe

MA

AKTIVNOSTI PRISTOPA ZA RAZVOJ MOBILNIH APLIKACIJ

IDENTIFIKACIJA IN OPREDELJEVANJE POTREB PO MOBILNOSTI

RAZVOJ MOBILNE APLIKACIJE

Opredelitev procesnega inorganizacijskega modela uporabe

mobilnih aplikacij

PO

TR

EB

E O

RG

AN

IZA

CIJ

E

Analiza obstoječih aplikacijklasične zvrsti in določitevpotrebnih mobilnih aplikacij

Identifikacija poslovnih procesov spotrebo informacijske podpore v stanju

mobilnosti

Iden

tifi

kaci

ja n

ovi

h m

ožn

ost

i, k

i ji

ho

mo

go

čajo

mo

bil

ne

apli

kaci

je

Pro

cesn

ivi

dik

Org

aniz

acij

ski

vid

ik

21

Process and Organisational Model of MA Use

Legenda

dog.1

Sklopaktivnosti A

dog.2

Sklopaktivnosti B

Aktivnost Cvloga 1

vloga 2

Mobilnaaplikacija 2

Mobilnaaplikacija 1

vloga 3

Obveščanje

Potrjevanje

Pregledovanje

Zagon aplikacije

Klasičen modelmobilne aplikacije

Model kontekstnoodvisne mobilne

aplikacije

Mobilnaaplikacija 3

vloga 4

Mobilnaaplikacija 4

Pogoj

22

Analisys of Existing Applications and Determination of New Applications

Mobilnaaplikacija 1

Aplikacija 1

Funkcionalnost

Aplikacija 2 Aplikacija 3

Mobilnaaplikacija 3

Mobilnaaplikacija 2

Funkcionalnost Funkcionalnost

Funkcionalnost

Mobilnaaplikacija 4

Mobilnaaplikacija 5

23

Context Determination and Determination of Triggering Rules

Primer uporabe -funkcionalnost

<<lokacija>>

<<fizične razmere v okolju>>

<<socialna situacija>>

<<pZp lokacija>>

<<PzP fizične razmere v okolju>>

<<PzP socialna situacija>>

Mobilni uporabnik

<<potreba>><<PzP potreba>>

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Context Determination and Determination of Triggering Rules(2)

<<lokacija>>

<<context>>Razred

Atribut1Atribut2

Proži

Metoda1Metoda2Metoda3

<<context>>Razred

Atribut1Atribut2

L, P - Proži

FR - Metoda1L - Metoda2

Legenda:

SS - socialna situacijaL - lokacijaFR - fizične razmere v okolju

P - potrebe (IS)

25

Conclusions

• MA represents New, Distinct Application Model• Context is New Category Introduced to IS• Context of Informational Needs is the Most

Important and Can be Determined• The Introduction of MA to IS brings New

Possibilities• The Introduction of MA to IS means the

Expansion of IS Borders• MA Bring Changes to IS Development

Methodologies

26

At the End….

• Keynes (1925): The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones, which ramify, for those brought up as most of us have been, into every corner of our minds