以EPOC為基礎之手機應用程式介面之實作

Abstract

無線網路可以讓我們在任何時間、任何地點取得個人所需的資訊與服務。例如：收發電子郵件、瀏覽生活資訊、購物或查詢天氣狀況等。然而，一般的無線手持式裝置為了輕薄短小的設計考量，僅具有較小的顯示區域、較不方便的輸入方式、較弱的運算能力以及有限的系統資源、電力和記憶體容量，導致在無線手持式裝置上使用與開發應用服務較為困難。在上述限制下，我們可以結合個人數位助理 (Personal Digital Assistant; PDA) 較大的顯示區域、方便的輸入方式和較強的運算能力等優點，與無線手持式裝置連接無線網路的能力。如此一來，使用者可透過個人數位助理較佳的環境使用網路服務。 本論文針對個人數位助理設計手機應用程式介面 (Mobile Station Application Programming Interface; MS-API)，它整合了個人數位助理與手機端之通訊介面，包裝繁複的溝通程序與資料分析。這個介面不需更改現有的行動電話系統，即可以讓協力廠商 (third party) 或一般使用者 (end-user) 使用，以開發出他們需要的軟體。此外，此介面亦具有方便維護、功能可彈性擴充等優點，不需等待作業系統或個人數位助理的製造廠商支援新功能，可加速軟體開發的流程。 實作中使用EPOC作業系統為範例，描述了可攜式掌上設備 (例如：個人數位助理、智慧型電話或通訊者) 作業系統所具有的功能，並在EPOC作業系統環境下開發手機應用程式介面。個人數位助理可藉此介面，經由符合GSM規格的手機連接GSM網路，以使用GSM網路服務或是經由GSM網路使用網際網路服務。

Wireless network provides services at anytime and anywhere. Examples include E-mail service, living information, shopping guide and weather forecast. However, in order to be portable, size and weight establish limits for wireless handheld devices, which results in a restricted user interface (small displays and keypads), less powerful CPU, and reduced memory capacity. It is difficult to use and to develop services on wireless handsets because of above constraints. We can combine larger display screen, powerful CPU, more memory and convenient I/O interface of PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with communication ability of wireless handset. With this combination better wireless services can be offered. This thesis describes the design and implementation of MS-API (Mobile Station Application Programming Interface). The MS-API supports integration between PDA and mobile station. Our approach does not require any modification to the mobile station and PDA software architecture. Thus, this interface can be used easily by third party or end-user to develop software they need. This interface also has the following advantages: fast service creation, easy maintenance and quick new feature development. We use EPOC as an example to illustrate the functionality of MS-API for devices such as PDAs, smartphones and communicators. The PDA can communicate with a GSM mobile station through MS-API, and thus can access services provide by GSM.