Architecture for generic service development on mobile handsets

Abstract

Several actors are involved in all layers the handset architecture, from hardware producers to service providers, and the numbers are raising. Lack of collaboration amongst these actors across and within layers has led to a complex development-process of services and applications, which in turn leads to difficult use of such applications and services. In this thesis we took a closer look at the mobile phone, examined challenges surrounding development and use of services on mobile phones, and found initiatives by actors to handle these challenges. This knowledge was used to design and implement a solution to handle identified challenges. The solution involves using the UICC as the main application platform and container of state, with the possibility to deploy handset-specific parts of an application on the handset. Standardized tools on the handset give UICC-applications the means to communicate with external processes and users. In addition the network operator is given an important role to administrate and adapt applications on the UICC as services change communication technology and application standard. The designed architecture facilitates more widespread development and use of services on the mobile handset. The architecture is realizable through current platforms and standards. By implementing a simulation and subset of our design on a handset the design was substantiated.