WML introduction

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W_at_P
Technology and Application
Sitan Wei Zhiyuan Lu Zhongmin Shi Yang
Yang Xiaowei Song
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Agenda

• Introduction to WAP
• WAE and WAP Gateway
• WML Introduction and Implementation
• WMLScript and Dynamic WML Page
• WAP Solution-Success,Challenges, Future

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Part 1 Introduction to WAP

• What is WAP?
• WAP Overview
• WAP protocol layer

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What is WAP?

• The Wireless Application Protocol(WAP) is an
  open, global specification that empowers mobile
  users with wireless devices to easily access and
  interact with information and services instantly.
• Composed by a set of communication protocol.

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WAP Overview

• What type of devices will use WAP?
• Handheld digital wireless devices such as
  mobile phones, pagers, two-way radios,
  smartphones and communicators -- from low-end to
  high-end.

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WAP Device Manufacturers
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Which Wireless Networks Does WAP Work With?
WAP is designed to work with most wireless
networks such as CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA,
FLEX, ReFLEX, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, Mobitex.
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WAP Wireless Operators
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WAP Software Companies
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WAP Example

• http//www.mobilewap.com/mobile/index.html

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WAP Features

• Low bandwidth
• Long latency
• Small screen size
• Mobile client

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Why WAP?

• WAP enables any data transport
• --TCP/IP,UDP/IP,GUTS,SMS or USSD
• WAP utilizes standard Internet markup language
  technology (XML)
• The WML UI components map well onto existing
  mobile phone user interface
• WAP utilizes plain Web HTTP1.1 servers

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WAP Protocol Stack
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WAP Layers

• WAEmain interfaces to the client devices and
  specify a markup language, a scripting language,
  and a telephony interface.
• WSPprovide connection-based services to the
  application layer
• WTLSoptional layer which consists of description
  devices
• WTP WDP and Bearer ServiceThey provide reliable
  transmission of WSP data packets between the
  client and server over a wireless link.

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Part 2 WAP Application Environment and WAP
Gateway

• Overview
• Architecture
• WAP Gateway
• WML and WMLScript
• Content Formats
• Current Development

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WAE Overview

• For network applications
• On small, narrowband devices
• High degree of interoperability
• WAE defines basics
• For WAP user agents
• For WAP gateways.
• WAE contains
• WML and WMLScript specifications
• Wireless Telephony Application Interface (WTAI)

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WAE Abstract Network Architecture
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How It Works
Static file or CGI Output WML
HTTP
WAP
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Application Example
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Why Do I Need a WAP Gateway?

• Unable connect directly from current WAP devices
  to web servers.
• Speak a different language between WAP Devices
  and the Web Servers
• An extra server to handle translation
• WAP Gateway, or WAP Proxy

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WAP Gateway

• Provides a link between a mobile network and
  Internet
• Converts the 'WAP' request into a 'Web' request
• Converts the 'Web' response into a 'WAP' response
  

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WAP Gateway (contd)

• A particular piece of software located on a
  server
• Handles incoming requests from your WAP phone.
• Compiling the WML pages into bytecode (WMLC)
• Reduce the size and number of packets
• Provide hosting capabilities themselves
• For dynamic Web applications
• determine more about your target client's request
  
• Provide transaction security

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WML

• Tag-based browsing language
• Screen management (text, images)
• Data input (text, selection lists, etc.)
• Hyperlinks navigation support
• W3C XML-based language
• Inherits technology from HDML and HTML

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WMLScript

• Scripting language
• Procedural logic, loops, conditionals, etc.
• Optimized for small-memory, small-cpu devices
• Derived from JavaScript
• Integrated with WML
• Powerful extension mechanism
• Reduces overall network traffic

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Content Formats

• Common interchange formats
• Promoting interoperability
• Formats
• Business cards IMC vCard standard
• Calendar IMC vCalendar standard
• Images WBMP (Wireless BitMaP)
• Compiled WML, WMLScript (Wmlc, Wmlcs)

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Content Format Example
Example Use of an Image
ltWMLgt ltCARDgt Hello World!ltBR/gt ltIMG
SRC/world.wbmp ALTGlobe
/gt lt/CARDgt lt/WMLgt
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Current Development

• Push Model
• Alerts or service indications
• Pre-caching of data
• http//www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/eeng/library
  /prowap.htm
• User Agent Profiles (UAProf)
• Goal content personalization
• Working with W3C on CC/PP
• Efficient transport over wireless links, caching
• http//www.w3.org/TR/NOTE-CCPP/

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Part 3 WML Introduction and Implementation-
Make and display WML page
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How to Make WML page

• 1. Write your own code
• Write code directly
• From a CGI script
• 2. Convert from HTML
• 3. Visual tools

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Write your own code WML Example
lt?xml version"1.0"?gt lt!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC
"-//WAPFORUM//DTD WML 1.1//EN" "http//www.wapforu
m.org/DTD/wml_1.1.xml"gt ltWMLgt ltCARDgt ltDO
TYPEACCEPTgt ltGO URLeCard/gt
lt/DOgt Welcome! lt/CARDgt ltCARD
NAMEeCardgt ltDO TYPEACCEPTgt ltGO
URL/submit?N(N)S(S)/gt lt/DOgt Enter
name ltINPUT KEYN/gt Choose speed
ltSELECT KEYSgt ltOPTION VALUE0gtFastlt/OPT
IONgt ltOPTION VALUE1gtSlowlt/OPTIONgt
ltSELECTgt lt/CARDgt lt/WMLgt
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Write your own code WML Elements

• Deck/Card Elements
• wml card template head access meta
• Event Elements
• Do ontimer onpick onevent postfield
  onenterforward onenterbackward
• Tasks
• Go prev efresh noop
• Variables
• Setvar
• User input
• Input select option optgroup fieldset
• Anchors, Images, and Timers
• a anchor img timer
• Text Formatting
• br p table tr td

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Write your own code Defining the Navigation
Path
ltWMLgt ltCARDgt ltDO TYPE"ACCEPT"
LABEL"Next"gt ltGO URL"card2"/gt
lt/DOgt DalhousieltBR/gtDirectory
lt/CARDgt ltCARD NAME"card2"gt ltDO
TYPE"ACCEPT"gt ltGO
URL"?sendtype"/gt lt/DOgt
Services ltSELECT KEY"type"gt
ltOPTION VALUE"em"gt1.Emaillt/OPTIONgt
ltOPTION VALUE"ph"gt2.Phonelt/OPTIONgt
ltOPTION VALUE"fx"gt3.Faxlt/OPTIONgt
lt/SELECTgt lt/CARDgt lt/WMLgt
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Write your own code The SELECT Element

• Display a list of options
• Each option may set the KEY variable and/or bind
  a task to the ACCEPT key
• TITLE dynamically sets the label string

ltCARDgt ltDO TYPE"ACCEPT" LABELFind"gt ltGO
URL"getcity.cgi?locationcity"/gt lt/DOgt
Forecast ltSELECT KEY"city"gt ltOPTION
VALUE"ber"gtBerlinlt/OPTIONgt ltOPTION
VALUE"rom"gtRomelt/OPTIONgt ltOPTION
TITLE"Find" ONCLICK"find.cgi"gtNew
Citylt/OPTIONgt lt/SELECTgt lt/CARDgt
Forecast 1 Berlin 2 Rome 3 New
City ____________ Find
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Write your own code The TEMPLATE Element

• Defines actions events for all cards in a deck

ltWMLgt ltTEMPLATEgt ltDO TYPE"OPTIONS"
LABEL"Main"gt ltGO URL"main_menu.wml"/gt
lt/DOgt lt/TEMPLATEgt ltCARD NAME"msg1"gt ltDO
TYPE"ACCEPT" LABEL"Next"gt ltGO
URL"msg2"/gt lt/DOgt First story
lt/CARDgt ltCARD NAME"msg2"gt Second story
lt/CARDgt lt/WMLgt
First story _____________ Next Main
Second story ... _____________ OK Main
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Write your own code Add Image

• ltimg srclogo.wbmp" altLogo"/gt
• WBMP File Generator
• JPG, GIF,BMP -gt WBMP
• http//amazingvb.latinaddress.com

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Converting HTML to WML

• How
• translates non-complex HTML documents in to WML
• tag-by-tag processing and discard all
  incompatible tags and contents
• Significance
• Dramatically accelerates wireless content
  development by using abundant HTML resources

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Converting HTML to WML Server Based
Converter

• Zygo http//wap.z-y-g-o.com
• embedded in the Apache web server via the
  mod_perl mechanism.
• For internal use.
• Download
• http//wap.z-y-g-o.com/tools/zygo-html2wml.
  zip
• installing the .pm file in the APACHEROOT/Zygo/
  directory and modify Apache httpd.conf file.
• The best option of web sites
• Enable server error messages to be displayed in
  handset
• Enable Billions of HTML pages, the major resource
  of Internet, to be shared by wireless device.

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Converting HTML to WML User-based
Converter

• WapTools http//www.argogroup.com

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Visual Tools

• to develop wireless applications using only
  point-and-click and drag-and-drop approach
• DotWAP 1.0
• http//www.inetis.com/english/solutions_dotwap.htm
  
• XYBO v1.4
• http//www.xybo.com/
• MobileDev 2.0
• http//mobiledev.speedware.com/

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Visual Tools Example
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How to Display WML Pages

• PDA or Cell phone
• Emulator
• SmartPhone Emulator Developer Edition 1.2
• http//www.yospace.com
• WinWAP v3.0 PRO
• http//www.slobtrot.com/winwap/
• M3Gate
• http//www.m3gate.com/

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Online Test

• online utility for code errors, common mistakes,
  and valid links
• The Wireless Internet Lab of www.AnywhereYouGo.com
  

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Embedded Browser

• YoSpace JavaBean Edition 1.0 Handset
  Manufacturer Support
• Put WAP emulation capability into your
  application software using the SmartPhone as a
  JavaBean
• 5NINE
• an open source development project for creating a
  WML Browser to work with all types of Linux
  environments.
• make wireless device an attractive alternative
  for hard-ware manufacturers.

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Standard Java Classes for WAP

• develop and debug WAP programs with standard Java
  development tools
• Waba SDK and VM
• http//www.wabasoft.com
• UP.SDK 4.2
• http//developer.openwave.com

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Part 4 WMLScript Dynamic WML Page
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What Is WMLScript

• WMLScript is the client-side scripting language
  used for WML pages
• WMLScript is based on ECMAScript, like JavaScript
• WML scripts are not embedded in the WML pages,
  they are sent separately.

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What Is WMLScript Used for ?

• WMLScript is used to calculate or validate user
  input
• WMLScript is used to generate message boxes and
  dialog boxes locally
• WMLScript is used to access facilities of the
  user agent 

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WMLScript Example

• WML source file (check.wml)
• lt?xml version"1.0"?gt
• lt!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC "- //WAPFORUM//DTD WML
  1.1//EN" "http//www.wapforum.org/DTD/wml_1.1.xml"
  gt
• ltwmlgt
• ltcard id"no1" title"Go to URL"gt
• ltdo type"options" label"Go"gt
• ltgo href"check.wmlsgo_url((url)')"/gt
• lt/dogt
• ltpgt Enter a URL ltinput type"text"
  name"url"/gt lt/pgt
• lt/cardgt
• lt/wmlgt

• WMLScript source file (check.wmls)
• extern function go_url (url)
• if (String.find(url,"http//") lt 0)
• url"http//"url
• WMLBrowser.go(the_url)

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WMLScript File

• WMLScript source files (.wmls)
• For WML browser or WML simulator
• WMLScript compiled files (.wmlsc)
• For WAP device
• Stored on server
• Compiled by WAP gateway automatically

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WMLScript Interpreter
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Standard Libraries

• Lang Library (WMLScript language core)
• E.g. min(), max(), exit(), abort(), random(),
  seed()
• Float Library (arithmetic floating-point
  functions)
• E.g. pow(), round(), sqrt()
• String Library (string functions)
• E.g. length(), trim(), charAt(), subString(),
  find(), replace()

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Standard Libraries (cont.)

• URL Library (handling both absolute and relative
  URL)
• E.g. isValid(), getHost(), getPort(),
  getParameters(), getQuery()
• Browser Library (access the associated WML
  context)
• E.g. getVar(), setVar(), go(), prev(), refresh()
• Dialogs Library (user interface functions)
• E.g. prompt(), confirm(), and alert()

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WMLScript vs. JavaScript

• WMLScript
• Used for WML
• No objects array
• Support library
• Separate file (.wmls)
• Support compiled file

• JavaScript
• Used for HTML
• Support objects array
• No library
• Embedded in HTML file
• No compiled file

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Dynamic WML Page

• Server Side Tools
• CGI
• Perl
• C/C
• ASP
• JSP
• Java Servlet

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Perl Example

• !/usr/bin/perl
• print "Content-Type text/vnd.wap.wml\n"
• print "\n"
• print "lt?xml version\"1.0\"?gt\n"
• print "lt!DOCTYPE wml PUBLIC \"-//WAPFORUM//DTD
  WML 1.1//EN\" \n"
• print "\"http//www.wapforum.org/DTD/wml_1.1.xml\"
  gt\n"
• print "ltwmlgt\nltcard id\"index\"
  title\"index\"gt\n"
• print "ltpgtHello everyonelt/pgt\n"
• print "lt/cardgt\nlt/wmlgt"

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Web Server Configuration

• Apache Server
• httpd.conf
• WML MIME Type
• AddType text/vnd.wap.wml
  .wml
• AddType application/vnd.wap.wmlc
  .wmlc
• AddType text/vnd.wap.wmlscript
  .wmls
• AddType application/vnd.wap.wmlscriptc .wmlsc
• AddType image/vnd.wap.wbmp
  .wbmp

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Part 5 WAP Solutions

• Success
• Challenges
• Future

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Available Wireless Services

• Voice
• SMS Short Message Service
• Data (over voice)
• WAP simplistic and expensive

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Attractions of WAP

• WAP combines two of the fastest growing
  industries wireless and the Internet IP
• WAP is an attempt to define the standard for how
  content from the Internet is filtered for mobile
  communications
• WAP is developed to make readily available
  content from the Internet easily available to
  mobile terminals

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WAP Scalable and Comprehensive

• Any mobile phone
• Any existing or planned wireless service
• Any mobile network standard
• Multiple input terminals

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Fast Growing of WAP

• WAP Forum Limited
• Over 450 members
• device manufacturers
• network operators
• SMS center suppliers
• SMS software suppliers
• Other vendors

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WAP Major Achievements

• Reduces resources and enriches the functionality
  of the network
• Generates additional traffic on the network and
  revenue
• Facilitates migration of applications between
  networks and bearers

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WAP Achievement Examples

• Web browsing
• WAP email
• WAP conference
• WAP search
• Document sharing
• Collaborative working
• Still images

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WAP Promises Examples

• Moving images
• Home automation
• Job dispatch
• Remote point of sale
• Customer service
• Remote monitoring (Meters)
• Vehicle positioning
• Remote LAN access
• File transfer

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WAP Challenges - Commercial

• End-to-end security
• Client identification
• Encryption/Authentication

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WAP Challenges - Network

• Less bandwidth (300 bps to 9600 bps)
• More latency
• Less connection stability
• Less predictive availability

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WAP Challenges - Usability

• Screen size
• Advanced applications
• Data input
• Integration with voice

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WAP Challenges - Legal Issues

• Privacy Location information
• Eavesdropping

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WAP Detractors and Controversies

• Difficult to configure for new services
• Unlikely in a long time-few mobile phones support
• WAP standard is incomplete
• WAP gateway vendors competing against each other
• Other protocols already widely supported or
  designed to supercede WAP
• WAP services be expensive
• Example of doubt on WAPs future
• http//www.infoworld.com/

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New Era of Wireless

• Next release of WAP
• WSG work area
• WTLS services
• WDP datagram protocol

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Competition for WAP

• Subscriber identity module (SIM) toolkit
• Windows CE
• JavaPhone

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Reference

• http//www.sce.carleton.ca/wmc/chameleon/wapdoc/wa
  pintro.html
• http//www.iec.org/tutorials/wap/topic04.html
• http//www.anywhereyougo.com/wap/Article.po?typeW
  AP_Tutorialpage7402
• http//www.tenetindia.com/Wap/whatswap/Faq/Faq.asp
  
• http//www.tenetindia.com/Wap/Resources/Software/S
  oftware.asp?choiceResources
• http//www.123wapinfo.com/softwares/
• http//allnetdevices.com/faq/?faqrediryes
• http//www.palowireless.com/wap/
• http//www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/eeng/library
  /eeng_wapexpo.htm
• http//www9.org/w9cdrom/228/228.html

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?
WAP or NOT WAP