Ivan Ganchev, Member, IEEE, Damien Meere, Stanimir Stojanov, Member, IEEE, Mícheál Ó hAodha, Máirtín O’Droma, Senior Member, IEEE

ABSTRACT

An InfoStation-based information system design for the

provision of mobile services (mServices) within a Library domain is presented. The main Library mServices developed, along with sample interactions among entities, is described. The creation, management and implementation of user profiles and user service profiles receive particular attention.

Index TermsInfoStations, mobile services

(mServices), library information system, CC/PP, UAProf, WSP, W-HTTP. 1. Introduction

An InfoStation-based system has previously been proposed to operate across a University Campus [1-4], providing access to a variety of mobile eLearning services (mServices), as well as a number of supplementary communications services [5]. The subsystem considered in this paper is focused within a much smaller domain, namely the University Library. It facilitates efficient user access to specialised library mServices and resources through mobile devices (cell phones, laptops, PDAs). In this paper, we consider the technologies supporting the delivery of such mServices, particularly in relation to the implementation of User Profiles and User Service Profiles. The paper is organized as follows. Section 2 presents a brief look at the InfoStation-based system architecture. Section 3 illustrates some examples of library mServices along with sample interactions among entities involved in their provision. Section 4 outlines the implementation of

The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Ireland’s HEA

Targeted Funding Program ‘Technology in Education’ and the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science for Research Project “A model and an architecture for mobile user-oriented eLearning services” Ref. No. ВУ-МИ-101/2005.

Dr. I. Ganchev, D. Meere and Dr. M. O’Droma, Telecommunications Research Centre, University of Limerick, Ireland; Ivan.Ganchev@ul.ie; Damien.Meere@ul.ie; Mairtin.ODroma@ul.ie.

Prof. S. Stojanov, Dept. of Computer Systems, Plovdiv University “Paisij Hilendarski”, Bulgaria; stani@ecl.pu.acad.bg.

Dr. M. Ó hAodha, Faculty of Science and Engineering Librarian, University of Limerick, Ireland; Micheal.OhAodha@ul.ie.

the Profiles. Finally section 5 concludes the paper and considers future R&D directions. 2. InfoStation-Based System Architecture

The proposed InfoStation-based system architecture provides access to library mServices, for mobile users equipped with wireless devices, via InfoStations deployed at key locations within a University Library. The architecture has a 3-tier structure involving the user mobile devices, the InfoStations, and the InfoStation Centre (Figure 1). User access to the library mServices is facilitated using available Bluetooth or WiFi connections. The InfoStation-based system is organized in such a way that if an InfoStation cannot fully satisfy the user service request, the request is forwarded to the InfoStation Centre.

Personal Assistant

Discovery Presentation and Rendering Self-

Service

Content and Service DomainContent & Content

CreationService Deployment & Service Creation

Content Delivery Support Functions

Content Management, Media, DB, Transcoding

Partner Support

Functions

Common Support Functions

ProvisioningData AccessDevice ManagementService CatalogueChargingOperations and MaintenanceProfile Management

Discovery Presentation and Rendering Self-

Service

Service Control and Execution

Services

Charging & Billing

URM RP

Operation and Maintenance

Master Profile

Repository AAABusiness Support Domain

Library InfoStation

CachedProfiles

Service Catalogue

Library Catalogue

Interactive Library Map

Library Databases

User Mobile Device

InfoStation Centre

Fig. 1. The InfoStation-based system architecture.

The First Tier encompasses user mobile devices,

equipped with intelligent agents that act as Personal Assistants (PA) to the users. The Second Tier consists of the InfoStations, deployed within the University Library, facilitating the users with mobile access to the library mServices through wireless connections. The Third Tier is the InfoStation Centre – the core of the overall architecture. Its main function is controlling the InfoStations as well as updating and synchronization of information across the system.

3. Library mServices

Building on the existing database and cataloguing system, the ‘Library Catalogue & Loans’ service allows

On InfoStation-Based Mobile Services Support for Library Information Systems

Eighth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies

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access to the library catalogue for users whilst on the move throughout the library. Users can access up-to-date information as to the availability of the various resources, and monitor the status of resources they may have loaned out from the library. Users may also monitor fines they may incur for failing to return resources before the designated time has passed. To ensure the user is aware of this time constraint, the PA on the user personal device will provide notification in sufficient time to allow the user to return the resource before the deadline passes.

In collaboration with the ‘Library Catalogue & Loans’ service, the ‘Interactive Library Map’ service facilitates the quick and efficient location of resources within the library. Users are provided with specific directions to collections of materials, most suitable to them (e.g. Science, Engineering, Languages) or indeed to the location of resources which the users may request through the library catalogue. In delivering this service, its content must be adapted and customized to the capabilities of the user device. Whilst utilizing a basic device with limited graphical display capabilities, the service content will be presented in a simple format which ‘best’ suits the device, e.g. textual format. If, however the user is utilizing a multi-media capable device (e.g. a laptop or PDA), s/he may access the complete hyper-media format of the service encompassing interactive graphical representations of the library, audio and indeed textual details of directions to specific resources. This adaptation and customization addresses the need for the system to facilitate a wide variety of devices with varying capabilities, while still delivering the ‘best’ quality of service (QoS).

Figure 2 shows sample interactions between the entities involved in provision of the library mServices. When a mobile user enters within the range of a library InfoStation, s/he goes through an Authorization, Authentication and Accounting (AAA) procedure. Once the AAA procedure is complete, the InfoStation analyses the user profile and device capabilities using CC/PP-UAProf. (c.f. Section 4). The InfoStation draws together a list of recommended resources, which may be applicable to the user. Details of the location of these resources are provided to the user’s PA along with notifications of any outstanding library charges incurred by the user. The PA will maintain the details and location information of the recommended resources in its cache, so if the user requests them, the information can be displayed immediately in the most convenient format. If the user chooses to access the library catalogue service, s/he may specify a number of search criteria such as title, author, or collection to search (Main catalogue, Journals, Special Collections etc). Utilizing these criteria, the InfoStation sifts through the library databases for material which ‘best’ matches the user’s search. Once a resource is chosen, the InfoStation provides resource location information, again drawing on the ‘Interactive Library Map’ service to direct the user.

User service requestIf th e user specifiesreso urces f rom the

Recom me ndations List,the de tails of the

resources are displayedto th e user

The U ser m ay ch oose toreserve a resource;

de tails of this re servationa re sent to the Library

InfoStation

Disp lay Infoto user R

esourceR

ecomm

endations +Reservations

Th e InfoS tation, wh ichpreviously cach ed th e

de tails of therecom m ended re sources

(Inclu din g Interact iveMap s) fo rwards these

deta ils onto the PA

User service request Forward userservice request

Confirmation ofReservation

Confirmation o fReservation

Pro cess Re servationDetails

User service request Forward userservice request

Forward on notificationof payment o f

outstand ing charges

Outstanding

Charge Payment

Use r pays an youtstand ing ch arges.Account details a reprev iou sly specified

within th e user profile

Users ou tstandingch arges with library and

a nd ap plied to creditcard

Confirmation o fPayment

Confirmation o fPaymentConfirmation of

Payment

Student

Library InfoStation(Intelligent Agent)

Request fo r user AAA +device capabil ities +

updates of user pro fi le anduser service pro file

User AAA OK;Create new

account record

Disp lay Info touser + D isplayConfirmation o f

Outstand ingCharges +Resource

Recommendations

Notification of any O utstandingCharges + Notificatio n of

Reco mmended Resources

ACK

InfoStationCenter (Intelligent

Agent)

ACK + Optiona lNotifica tion o f O utstandingCharges + Updated L ist o f

Re levant Services:- Mo bile Catalogue,- Reco mend atio ns

Service,- Interactive Map

Request fo r user AAA +updates o f user pro fileand user service profile

ACK

PersonalAssistant

(Intelligent Agent)

CachedProfiles

DiscoveryPresentation andRende ring Self-

Se rvice

ServiceCatalogue

PersonalAssistant

DiscoveryPre senta tion andRendering Sel f-

Serv ice

M asterProfi le

Reposi tor ies

ServiceCatalogue

Mo bileCataloguing

Reco me ndationsService

User En tersSearch Criteriafor Resources

Disp lay Infoto user

User service request F orward userservice request

Deta ils of matchingresourcesDisp lay detai ls o f

match ing resources

Ch arg in g &B ill in g

URM

R P

AAA

BusinessSupportDomain

InteractiveMap

Optiona l: only necessary ifthe InfoStation ha s no reco rdthe users prof ile in it s cached

Prof ile Re pository

Provide deta ilsof users account

in the BSD, ifany outstand ing

fines

Business Suppo rt Dom ainsup plies deta ils of the

u sers a ccount andspecifies wh ether o r not

that p art icular user has anyoutstanding fines

Request User Bil lingDetails

ACK + Details o fUsers outstanding

charges

Libra ry Da tabases

The In foS tation draws to gether a l is to f recom me nded re sources whichm ay be a pplicable to th e use r anddeliv ers details of these reso urces

(Includ ing dire ction s) to the users PA

PA m ainta ins details of a num be r o frecom m ended re sources including their lo cat ion ,

in case the user m ake s such a requ est

User service request Forward userservice request

Library CatalogueA

ccess

Analyze u ser prof ileand device capabilit iesusing CC /PP-UAPro f +

Instantiate se rvice

InfoS tat ion sea rchesthe cata log ue for

m aterial f it ting th ecriteria specif ied by

the user

Re quest forCatalogue Service

Fig. 2. The library mServices provision: Entities’ interactions.

4. Profile Implementation A pivotal issue concerning service implementation is the creation and utilization of User Profiles and User Service Profiles. As described in [6], the “Composite Capabilities/ Preference Profile” (CC/PP) is used as a uniform format for the implementation of these profiles. This defines a structured framework for user devices to make known their capabilities. When a mobile device sends a service request to a particular InfoStation, with CC/PP, services can be customized and tailored to suit the target device. In essence the content is adapted to suit the individual user and his/her device. The CC/PP defines various vocabularies, which specify attributes supporting particular applications of the CC/PP. With respect to the InfoStation-based library information system, the most relevant vocabulary is the User Agent Profile (UAProf) [7], which facilitates the end-to-end flow of Capability and Preference Information (CPI) across the three tiers of the system architecture. Of course the vocabulary is not restricted to using a number of static components and attributes. We can define any

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additional components we deem necessary within our own implementation of the UAProf. For example, we envisage it being necessary to define a number of user-related attributes such as user name, course, department etc. Indeed the individual’s role (Educator or Student) can be used to specify certain privileges. The UAProf specification also allows the creation of device-independent code to deliver numerous services to a wide variety of devices. This device independence is especially important within the university/library environment as users will come from a multitude of backgrounds, and as such utilize a range of devices as varied as the users themselves. The details specified within the components of the UAProf allow an InfoStation to dynamically adapt and customize the Library mServices according to the specifications of that device.

4.1 UAProf Transport Mechanisms The UAProf CPI may be transferred between the mobile

client (Personal Assistant) and the WAP gateway/proxy (InfoStation) over: (i) the Wireless Session Protocol (WSP) [8], or (ii) the Wireless Profiled HTTP (W-HTTP). Each protocol provides much the same functionality, however the W-HTTP does not support the CC/PP Exchange Protocol (CC/PPex) used to convey the Uniform Resource Identifier, i.e. the profile location information which allows retrieval of information from a Profile Repository. As such we shall focus on the use of the WSP to convey CPI.

When a mobile user enters within the range of an InfoStation, the user’s PA initiates a WSP session with the InfoStation, and sends a WSP Connect request, containing the Profile and Profile-Diff headers (utilized to convey CPI). If the InfoStation caches this device’s CPI, it responds to the PA’s request with a WSP Connect response containing the Profile-Warning header value of 100 (i.e. OK). If the PA does not receive this response, it assumes that the InfoStation has not cached the CPI and as such will not receive AAA. Figure 3 demonstrates some of the messages passed between the entities within the system. Once the InfoStation has cached the CPI, it can begin analyzing the information and process the request for user AAA. If the InfoStation uses the CPI to update its own profile repository, the WSP request is forwarded onto the InfoStation Centre via HTTP. This request will contain the CPI initially sent on by the PA.

WSP Connect request

Profile: 0x35 URI 0x00Profile-Diff: 0x01 <?xml version="1.0"?><RDF>AA...

Mobile Device

Personal Assistant

Library InfoStation

CachedProfiles

Services

Discovery Presentation and Rendering Self-

Service

Service CatalogueWSP Connect response

Profile-Warning: 0x37 0x90

InfoStation Centre

Discovery Presentation and Rendering Self-

Service

Master Profile

Repositories

Service Catalogue

W-HTTP request

x-wap-profile: "URI", "1-mKjDhuifjKeuV"x-wap-profile-diff:1;<?xml version="1.0"?><RDF>AA...

W-HTTP response

x-wap-profile-warning:200

Library Databases

Fig. 3. Entities’ interactions in conveying the CPI utilizing the WSP.

5. Conclusion & Future Work An InfoStation-based system providing mServices within a library domain has been outlined in this paper. An example of an mServices session and corresponding entities’ interactions has been explained. The mServices are provided in a personalised manner by adapting them to the user preferences, device capabilities, and access network constraints. This adaptation is facilitated through the use of User Profiles and User Service Profiles. The profiles are implemented with the “Composite Capabilities/Preference Profile” (CC/PP), in particular the User Agent Profile (UAProf). Future work includes development of the system to enable users borrow and return library books and resources through their mobile devices. This will greatly expedite the library information system usage.

References [1] I. Ganchev, S. Stojanov, M. O’Droma, D. Meere. “An

InfoStation-Based University Campus System Supporting Intelligent Mobile Services”. Journal of Computers, Vol. 2, No. 3, Pp. 21-33; Academy Publishers (ISSN 1796-203X), May, 2007.

[2] I. Ganchev, S. Stojanov, M. O’Droma, D. Meere. “An InfoStation-Based Multi-Agent System for the Provision of Intelligent Mobile Services in a University Campus Area”. 3rd IEEE Conf. on Intelligent Systems (IEEE IS’06), London, UK, 4-6 Sept. 2006. Proceeding Book (ISBN 1-4244-0196-8) Pp. 426-431.

[3] I. Ganchev, S. Stojanov, M. O’Droma, D. Meere. “An InfoStation-Based University Campus System for the Provision of mLearning Services”. 6th IEEE Int. Conf. on Advanced Learning Technologies (IEEE ICALT’06), Kerkrade, The Netherlands; 5–7 July 2006. Proceeding Book (ISBN 0-7695-2632-2) Pp. 195-199.

[4] I. Ganchev, S. Stojanov, M. O’Droma, D. Meere. “Adaptable InfoStation-based mLecture Service Provision within a University Campus”. 7th IEEE Int. Conf. on Advanced Learning Technologies (IEEE ICALT’07), Niigata, Japan; 18-20 July 2007. Proceeding Book (ISBN 0-7695-2916-X). Pp. 165-169.

[5] I. Ganchev, M. O'Droma, D. Meere, "Intelligent Car Parking Locator Service," Int. Journal of Information Technologies and Knowledge (IJ ITK), vol. 2, 10 pgs 2007.

[6] L. Tran, M. Butler, E. Izdepski, D. Coward, A. Schade, R. Hermann, S. Chatterjee, J. Williams, "Composite Capability/Preference Profiles (CC/PP) Processing Specification," Sun Microsystems, Inc. October 2003.

[7] "User Agent Profile: Version 2.0," Open Mobile Alliance, February 2006.

[8] "WAP Wireless Session Protocol Specification, WAP-230-WSP," WAP Forum Ltd. July 2001.

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