Dr.

Shikha Nema

Wireless Application Protocol

Dr. Shikha Nema

What is WAP?

WAP is a set of protocols that allows wireless devices such as cell phones or PDA to access the internet Designed to work with small screens and with limited interactive controls Incorporates Wireless Markup Language (WML) to specify the format and presentation of text on the screen Defines communication protocols and application environment

Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP

"WAP specifies an application framework and network protocols for wireless devices such as mobile telephones, pagers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs)." WAP is the mobile phone industrys answer to interactive web applications. WAP defines its own set of protocols but models after existing web protocols.3

Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP

Is similar to combination of HTML and HTTP Optimization for low bandwidth Low memory Low display capability Make use of their existing web infrastructure for data storage and retrieval
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP

Uses client server approach Incorporates simple browser into mobile phone (micro browser) Intelligent gateways Network based smart phones Few resources on mobile Enrich the functionality of network
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP and the Web

GSM, CDMA, etc. WDP WTLS WTP WML WML Script

IP UDP TLS (from SSL) HTML JavaScript

Rationale: reuse as much as possible from IP world, but optimize for the wireless world (i.e. compression, adapt to high-loss rate.)

Dr. Shikha Nema

Proxy server WAP

Gateway between wireless network and wireline internet Provide protocol translation and optimizing data transfer for wireless handset Wireless telephony application interface (WTAI) between voice and data
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Dr. Shikha Nema

Goals of WAP

Independence from wireless network standards Inter-operatibility Overcoming the boundaries of wireless network Overcoming the boundaries of wireless devices Increased efficiency Increased reliability Security Scalability Extensibility

Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP is designed

Can support any mobile device Any existing or planned wireless service Any mobile network standard

Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP Programming Model

Similar to WWW programming model Optimization and extensions are made Web content and applications are specified in a set of well known content formats based on WWW Content is transported using a set of standard communication protocols based on www communication protocol Micro-browser in the wireless terminals coordinates the user interface and is analogous to a standard web browser

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP model components

Standard naming model: (URI) analogous to URL Content typing : WAP content is given a specific type consistent with www typing Standard content formats :WAP content formats are based on WWW technology and include display markup , calendar information , electronic business card objects etc Standard communication protocols: WAP communication protocols enable the communication of browser requests from the mobile terminal to network web server
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP Programming model

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP Proxy funtionality

Protocol gateway : Translates request from WAP protocol stack to WWW protocol stack Content encoders and decoders:

Translates WAP contents to compact encoded formats Mobile users can browse a wide variety of WAP content Allows content and applications to be hosted on WWW servers Uses Cell global identity scripting (CGI)
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP Architecture

Scalable and extensible environment Layered design of protocol stack Enables other service and applications to utilize features of WAP WAP Protocol stack resembles OSI model Well defined interfaces
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP Protocol Architecture

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Wireless Application Environment (WAE)

Dr. Shikha Nema

Application environment based on combination of www and mobile telephone technology Establish an interoperable environment

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAE components

Addressing Model :URI is used for addressing resources that are not necessarily accessed using known protocols Wireless Markup language :

analogous to HTML and is based on XML Creates services that fit on small hand held devices, low bandwidth wireless bearer Uses a card to specify an interaction with the user Collection of cards ( deck) constitutes a service Variables, text formatting feature, support for image , soft buttons, navigation control etc Binary encoded by the WAP gateway to save BW
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAE components

WML script :

Used for enhancing services written WML Adds intelligence to services For validation of user input Access to telephony related functions Supports libraries to extend the basic WML functionality Future expansion Binary encoded by the WAP gateway to save BW
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Wireless Telephony applications (WTA)

Dr. Shikha Nema

Means to create telephony services using WAP Utilizes a user agent based on WML user agent with extended functionality

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Dr. Shikha Nema

Wireless Telephony applications (WTA) Functionality

Wireless Telephony application interface

Interface for telephony related functions Call management , handling of text messages and phone book control
WTA services are stored persistently in the device to enable access to them w/o accessing the network
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Repository

Dr. Shikha Nema

Wireless Telephony applications (WTA) Functionality

Event Handling

Includes incoming calls , call disconnect and answering WTA services stored in repository can be started after such an event Repository WTA services are stored persistently in the device to enable access to them w/o accessing the network Allows user to be notified about the events of different kinds of services Possibility to start the appropriate service to handle the event URL and a message can be sent to wireless device

WTA service indication

Uses dedicated WTA user agent

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Wireless session Protocol (WSP) features

Dr. Shikha Nema

Establishes a reliable session from client to server and release the session Common level of protocol functionality using capability negotiation Compact encoding Suspends and resumes the session Provides HTTP1 functionality Exchanges client and server session headers Interrupts transactions in process Pushes content from server to client in unsynchronized manner Support for multiple asynchronous transactions Improves air time and latency

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WTP (Transaction Protocol)

Goal: A light-weight transaction protocol necesary for interactive "browsing" applications. T stands for Transaction, not transport. WTP is message-oriented protocol, not stream-based. Uses transaction ID, Ack, Duplicate removals and retransmissions No explicit connection setup and tear down Improves efficiency Designed for Browsing Concatention (many PDUS to one SDU) Allows asynchronous transaction Each new transaction has a new Transaction ID (~ seq no.) Provides 3 classes of service
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Dr. Shikha Nema

Class 0 (Unreliable 1-way)

Sender sends a message but does not wait for an ack Receiver delivers message to application w/o checking for duplicates No acks are sent Sample app: unreliable weather update

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Dr. Shikha Nema

Class 1 (Reliable 1-way)

Sender sends a message and waits for an ack (retx if necessary) Receiver checks for duplicates before delivering message to application Acks are sent and retransmitted if client retransmits request erroneously

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Dr. Shikha Nema

Class 2 (Reliable 2-way)

Sender sends a message and waits for an ack (retx if necessary) Receiver checks for duplicates before delivering message to application Ack for request is piggy-backed on top of the reply from the server application Client acks the receipt of the result
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WTP Duplicate Detection

Since there is no handshake, how does it detect duplicates? For class 0, duplicate packets are delivered with checking. Server initiates handshake to verify (and resynchronize TrasactionID if necessary)
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WTP: Other interesting features

Dr. Shikha Nema

User-level acks (more precisely, application-level acks) May do Segmentation and Reassembly Allow multiple messages (PDUs) to be concatenated into one SDU (link-layer frames) Re-transmit bit to distinguish fresh vs. retransmitted packets
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WTLS (Transport Layer Security)

Dr. Shikha Nema

Transport layer security between a WAP client and the WAP server Based on TLS provides the upper-level layer of WAP with a secure transport service interface that preserves the transport service interface (datagram) below it. Security level of WTLS depends on the requirements of the given application
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WTLS (Transport Layer Security

Dr. Shikha Nema

Data integrity : unchanged and uncorrupted Privacy : data between terminal and application server are private Authentication Denial of service : if no successful verification
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WTLS Summary

Very similar to SSL, but SSL is usually implemented on top of TCP; WTLS includes retransmission mechanism Client/Server can authenticate each other (optional) Client/Server can negotiate ciphers to be used Client/Server can negotiate a datagram mode that has no sequence numbers Optional Optimized for low bandwidth bearer networks with relatively long latency
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Dr. Shikha Nema

Datagram Protocol (WDP)

Goal: To allow transport, security, and session protocols to operate independent of the underlying bearer (e.g. GSM, CDMA, etc.) To provide a UDP-like interface

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WDP Basic Features

Application addressing by Port Numbers Segmentation/Reassembly: only present if underlying bearer does not support it already Error Detection

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WDP Adaptation layer

Maps WDP functions directly onto a specific bearer Adaptation layer is different for each bearer Deals with specific capabilities and characteristics of that particular bearer service
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Dr. Shikha Nema

WDP Summary

If bearer (e.g. GSM USSD) speaks IP, WDP equals UDP. Otherwise, WDP adapts to the underlying network and provides Demux & Segmentation normally provided by UDP/IP. Wireless control message protocol (WCMP) provides an efficient error handling mechanism
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Dr. Shikha Nema

Optional WAP bearers

SMS: limited length (160 characters ), several SMS for WAP protocol Circuit Switched service ( CSD) :lacks immediacy

Dialup connection may take 10 secs to connect the client to gateway

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Dr. Shikha Nema

Optional WAP bearers

Unstructured supplementary services data (USSD)

Transmitting information on GSM network Session is established and stays open till disconnect 182 characters Turnaround response time is short Users can enter commands directly from initial mobile screen Works in roaming
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Dr. Shikha Nema

Optional WAP bearers

GPRS

fast and supports virtual connectivity Two connection mode : WSP connection mode or WSP connection protocol Connection oriented or connection less By SMS or by user maintaining a GPRS session

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Dr. Shikha Nema

Protocol Features

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP Advantages

Implementation is near to the internet model Most modern mobile telephone devices support WAP Real time send/receive data Multiplatform functionality No hardware obsolescence
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Advantages of using WAP CSS on mobile internet sites

Dr. Shikha Nema

Learning WAP programming does not require much effort Greater control on the appearance of WAP pages Downloading of cascading style sheet is done once only File sizes can become smaller if the layout and formatting is moved to an external WAP CSS style sheet
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Advantages of using WAP CSS on mobile internet sites

Dr. Shikha Nema

Content and presentation can be separated Match the layout/style of the same content to different wireless devices/different user agents Minimize the effort to maintain a WAP site Apply a single WAP CSS style sheet to multiple WAP pages Reuse the style code in multiple projects Remotely divide work

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Dr. Shikha Nema

Disadvantages of WAP

Low speed, security and very small user interface Not very familiar to user Business model is expensive Forms are hard to design Third party is included

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Disadvantages of using WAP CSS on mobile internet sites

Dr. Shikha Nema

Different WAP browsers have varied levels of support for WAP CSS An external WAP CSS style sheet can increase the time required for a page to be completely loaded the first time External WAP CSS does not exist in cache of mobile phone Separate requests for XHTML MP document and WAP CSS style sheet File size could be large
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Dr. Shikha Nema

Applications of WAP

Accessing internet from mobile devices Games can be played from mobile devices To access timesheets and filing expense claims Locate customers geographically Banking Provides short messaging , e-mail and weather and traffic alerts
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Dr. Shikha Nema

imode

Proprietary mobile ISP Uses compact HTML No conversion is needed from HTML to WML as in WAP Is a packet switched service Includes image , animated images and colors Users are charged per packet of downloaded information Multiple communications Integrated with PDC
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Dr. Shikha Nema

imode

Relies on Internet security provided by SSL/TLS Non repudiation is not possible

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Dr. Shikha Nema

IMODE

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Dr. Shikha Nema

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Dr. Shikha Nema

IMODE V/s WAP

IMODE is available only in Japan whereas Europe ,United States and other big markets for 3G service providers are WAP based. They have different graphic capabilities: imode only supports simple graphics which is far more than WAP allows. IMODE packet-switched network is more suited for transferring data than WAP circuit-switched network.

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Dr. Shikha Nema

Imode v/s WAP

IMODE has ALWAYS ON capabilities: Since users are not charged for the time they spend on-line. IMODE is more convenient compared to WAP. IMODE is less expensive. IMODE doesnt require dial up connection before using various IP based services: Therefore e-mail becomes as instant message.
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Dr. Shikha Nema

Imode v/s WAP

IMODE uses cHTML, a subset of HTML while WAP uses WML, a subset of XML:

cHTML is easier to develop compared to WML. cHTML has some limitations. WML is more extensible. WAP gateway is required for translation XML supports more dynamic contents and various applications. XML is more advantageous for future purpose.

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Dr. Shikha Nema

WAP v/s Imode

Due to all advantages of WAP, it is more used though it is more complicated and expensive compared to IMODE.

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