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Mobile Phone based Remote Monitoring System
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Acknowledgements
I wish to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Adnan Al-Anbuky, for his
ongoing guidance, his patience, his excellent advice, and most of all his kind
understanding. His high expectations of me encouraged me to perform the best that I
could and I respect him for that.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Lin Chen, who had been my cosupervisor
for one semester, for his patience and his good advice.
I would also like to thank Murray McGovern at Mobile Control Solutions Ltd for his
technical and project support. His help has been very valuable.
Thanks also to Mr. Hong Zhang at MCS and to Sean Tindle, both of whom tolerated me
and aided me in my quest so supportively.
Thanks to David Parker for his proof reading of my work and his advice.
I appreciate also, so much, my family’s interest and encouragement, without which I
would not have had this opportunity.
Abstract
This thesis investigates embedded databases and graphical interfaces for the MicroBaseJ
project. The project aim is the development of an integrated database and GUI user
interface for a typical 3G, or 2.5G, mobile phone with Java MIDP2 capability. This
includes methods for data acquisition, mobile data and information communication,
data management, and remote user interface. Support of phone delivered informatics
will require integrated server and networking infrastructure research and development to
support effective and timely delivery of data for incorporation in mobile device-based
informatics applications. A key research and development (R&D) challenge is to
support effective and timely delivery of data for incorporation in mobile device-based
informatics applications. Another important aspect of the project is determining how to
develop efficient graphics for the small mobile screen.
The research investigates and analyses the architecture of a mobile monitoring system.
The project developed a generic solution that can be implemented in a number of
commercial sectors, such as horticulture, building management and pollution/water
management. The developed concept is tested using data relevant to the horticultural
area of application. The system also addresses the main issues related to mobile
monitoring, including realtime response, data integrity, solution cost, graphical
presentation, and persistent storage capabilities of modern mobile devices.
Four embedded databases based on J2ME have been investigated. Two of the four have
been evaluated and analysed. The Insert function, Sequence Search, and Random Search
of Perst List and RMS (Record Management System) databases have been tested. The
size of the processed data was limited to 20,000 records when using the wireless toolkit
simulator, and 11,000 records when using a mobile phone. Perst Lite reflects good
performance and has out-performed RMS in all tests.
User interface software such as J2ME Polish for mobile phones has been investigated.
Custom J2ME class for graphical interface is developed. This provides the graphical
presentation of the data collected from the sensors; including temperature, wind speed,
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wind direction, moisture, and leaf wetness. The graphical interface, bar charts, and line
charts with trace ball for collected data have been designed and implemented.
The embedded database performance and project performance have been investigated
and analysed. The performances of Perst Lite and RMS are evaluated in terms of the
insert, sequence search, and random search functions based on simulation and real
devices. The record numbers vary from 1,000 to 20,000. The project performance
contains data receiving and storage, and data presentation and configuration. The
performance of data storage and configuration can be negated due to the running mode
and the response time. Thus, data presenting performance is the key focus in this
project. This performance was divided into the categories of initial, data search, data
selection, and charting. The initial performance includes the initialisation of the project
parameters, and the reaching of the welcome interface. Data search performance refers
to the retrieval of the specified data from the embedded database, measured on 48 data
points, which only can be presented on the mobile screen from the retrieved data. These
four performance types are measured in thousands of record numbers, varying from
1,000 to 18,000 record numbers, with the retrieved data range varying from 1 day to 30
days.
1.1 Introduction
The thesis proposes a remotely controlled mobile application for horticulture. This
chapter introduces the project’s background and reviews mobile application areas,
databases, and communication protocols for mobile applications. It also discusses some
embedded databases available for mobile applications. Some topics for user interface
theory and design are presented in this chapter. Next, the project objective and project
plan are proposed.
1.2 The Project Background
Mobile phones have been part of our lives for over a decade. There have been many
research studies on the use of wireless services for remote monitoring and control over
these years [1]. In the early stage of mobile phone usage, however, the growth of mobile
applications had been limited by the non-availability of efficient handsets and secure
wireless networks.
With a global mobile phone user base in excess of 1.3 billion and an acknowledged
need for current information-based management processes it is believed that there is a
current market base for at least 75,000 applications in the Australasian market in the
horticultural and water/irrigation management sectors. Further generic opportunities
exist in chilled assets, industry, energy, pollution, and security related applications. Bass
[2] product adoption models suggest a technology uptake over five to seven years in this
technology sector. In recognition of the importance of the project to the industry, it has
been coordinated by MCS (Mobile Control Solutions) Ltd., a lead developer who has
industry experience and current high level academic contacts in the mobile device
applications development sector.
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1.3 Literature Review
1.3.1 Mobile Application Field and Architecture
There have been a number of research projects related to the use of the cell phone as a
remote monitor and controller. Most of these projects have focused on telemedicine,
education, control of plant and home appliances, and spatial information services.
Below we discuss concisely some of the popular application areas.
1.3.1.1 Control Applications
Home appliance control is the most popular field for mobile application.
Nikolova, Meijs and Voorwinden [3] developed a technique for interconnecting
home and mobile networks to enable the control of home appliances from a
remote mobile phone, or a web pad. The remote control functions include remote
mobile programming of VCRs (video cassette recorders), remote mobile control
of heating thermostats, and remote mobile monitoring using security cameras.
Another control system for home appliances was presented by Nichols and Myers
[4]. This system can automatically generate interfaces with appliances from
abstract specifications of the functions of the appliances, with the interfaces
allowing users to control all functions of the appliances from their smart phones.
Moreover, Ishikawa, Saito and Cohen [5] introduced a framework to synchronise
avatars and appliances with mobile phone ringtones. The architecture provided an
interface to control home appliances and avatars 1.
Besides common home appliances, set-top-boxes are also involved in control
areas. Lin and Chen [6] developed a framework to let users control set-top-boxes
from mobile devices, such as mobile phones and laptops. The application allowed
mobile users to watch digital TV (DTV) content online and remotely command
the set-top-box to record a DTV program. Furthermore, Sirskanthan, Meher, Ng
and Heng [7] devised a Teletext WAP access system. The system transformed the
Teletext contents from the screen format of a TV to the screen format of a WAP
1 The 3D CG characters which reflect a client’s action.
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(wireless application protocol) Enabled Handphone (WEHP), and also allowed
WAP enabled mobile phones to access the Teletext-WAP database and show
database information on their screens.
Plant control is another area investigated in mobile applications. Ravi, Chathish
and Prasanna [1] proposed technical and maintenance personnel supervision and
control of machinery and processes from a cellular phone. They used the WAP
protocol to develop an alarm management program for providing alert signals
when any received data exceeds a preset value for the selected process variables.
In addition, a remote monitoring and inspection system for robotic manufacturing
was presented by Pires [8]. This system uses Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
(SMTP) and Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3) to transmit warnings and
reports to users’ mobile phones and beepers.
1.3.1.2 Positional Application
The positional application is another popular area in mobile applications. A user
can request specific positional information from a mobile phone, or a PDA
(Personal Digital Assistant) with a particular device. Shimada, Tanizaki and
Maruyama [9] presented a structure for providing different spatial information
services. A compass location adapter (CLA) was developed to assess location and
direction into the mobile phone instead of sensor devices, and was mounted on the
cell phone. The mobile user submitted requests for spatial information and the
particular message would be shown on the screen.
A user cannot only retrieve information with CLA devices, but can also request
spatial information from a server, or other device. Rahman and Bhalla [10]
presented an interface for spatial data queries on mobile devices. They created
extensions for Query-By-Example (QBE), so that the interface could support
spatial queries on portable devices. Some positional applications provide different
information in terms of the types of mobile devices. A framework for querying
hyperlinked multimedia cultural inheritance datasets, such as museum photos, was
proposed by Carswell, Eustace, Gardiner, Kilfeather and Neumann [9]. This
framework could provide different information to users based on their devices’
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categories, such as a mobile phone not receiving image data, and a PDA not
receiving video data.
1.3.1.3 Telemedicine Application
There have been many mobile applications targeting the telemedicine field. Some
applications allow doctors to access the medical records stored in a remote server.
An implementation of a WAP-based telemedicine system was developed by Hung
and Zhang [11]. They utilised WAP devices as mobile access PCs for common
inquiries and patients’ common data. Authorised users could view a patient's data,
monitor blood pressure and electrocardiogram results on WAP equipment in storeand-
forward mode. At the same time, Andrade, Wangenheim, Bortoluzzi and De
Biasi [12] investigated an approach to allow medical staff to access patient
records, such as computerised tomographic (CT), ultrasonography (US), and
magnetic resonance (MR) images, when visiting the patient’s bedside, or in
emergency situations. Koop and Mosges [13] also used mobile devices to store
patient diaries to increase the quality of data and reduce the time needed to close
the database.
Telemedicine applications not only allow doctors to access relevant records, but
can also provide monitoring of emergent patients. Kogue, Matsuoka, Kinouchi
and Akutagawa [14] proposed a remote patient monitoring system. The system
was designed for use with a 3G mobile phone to observe information of various
patients in an ICU (Intensive Care Unit), or a CCU (Critical Care Unit). Another
application which helped the elderly with dementia was outlined by Lin, Chiu,
Hsiao, Lee and Tsai [15]. They developed a platform, including a web service,
database, message controller, and health geographic information system (GIS)
server, to implement various monitoring schemes, such as indoor residence
monitoring and emergency rescue.
1.3.1.4 Education Application
Education is another hot issue in mobile applications. Ketamo [16] introduced an
adaptable mobile working environment, xTask, for teaching and training. PC, or
PDA, users could access this environment, which was built over software
platforms such as Apache web–server, ActivePerl programming interface and
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MySql database. In addition, a framework was introduced for collaborative mobile
learning by Black and Hawkes [17]. The framework provided an interface for
PDA users to allow them to carry out reading-comprehension testing using
Question-Answer Relationship (QAR).
Moreover, databases have also been introduced into mobile education
applications. A communication and discussion toolkit, based on sending short
messages, designed for use in schools was presented by Bollen, Eimler and Hoppe
[18]. The messages generated by the students were collected into a database and
then established a basis for discussion and analysis. Meurant [19] reviewed an
application to use cell phones in L2 (second language) classrooms. This
application captured SMS (Short Message Service) into the database, which was
later incorporated into the display on the message board.
Although there are many fields covered in the literature regarding mobile applications,
such as home appliance and plant control, spatial query, telemedicine, and education,
there are none targeting horticulture.
1.3.2 Mobile Database Applications
Many different types of databases have been applied in a variety of mobile applications.
Some database engines are based on the file system. A mobile Web Service system,
which used VS.net tools, C# language, and the Asp.net technique, was proposed by
Gao, Wang, Jiang and Sun [20]. In addition, Bakos, Farkas and Nurminen [21]
proposed a search method for phonebook-based smart phone networks. This search
engine allowed users to search the information in ways that were closer to a universal
human perception of value and reliability.
Some relational and object databases are also introduced. Rahman and Bhalla [10]
proposed an interface that could support queries for spatial data on mobile devices. This
interface was designed for a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). In
addition, Rahman, Bhalla and Hashimoto [22] developed a Query-By-Object interface
for Information Requirement Elicitation (IRE). This application was built on an Object-
Relational Database Management System (ORDBMS). Furthermore, Lo, Chang,
Frieder and Grossman [23] compared the dynamics of the performance of eight Java
programs; jess, javac, mtrt, compress, db, db4o, smallDB, and ozone; in terms of object
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size distribution, average object size, object live distribution, and the total garbage
collection cycle. Their results reveal that db, ozone, db4o, and smallDB share several
similarities related to the object size, the object live span, and the object size set.
Some real databases used by the above applications are installed in the server side,
while some installed in mobile phones are based on a file system. Most embedded
databases are designed for PDA, or mobile laptop, with only a few being suitable for
cell phones, due to the resource-constraints.
1.3.3 Mobile Application Interface Review
The user interface is the end point for the user. Hence its appropriate design is very
important to the user. There have been a number of mobile applications focusing on
user interface design over recent years. Imai, Ooga, Yamane, Sadayuki, Iwamoto and
Masuda [24] investigated a monitoring system integrating network cameras, an
integrated web/mail/database server, and web-based high performance mobile phones.
The mobile phone user could access the relevant information located in a server via a
graphic user interface. In addition, Yang and Kou [25] proposed a model for monitoring
and control of PC clusters from a mobile phone. The user interface for mobile phones
was designed in a graphic mode. Further, Rahman, Bhalla and Hashimoto [26] proposed
a high level user interface for Information Requirement Elicitation (IRE). A mobile web
user can access the server information through the Query-By-Object approach.
Some applications provided a generator for the user interface. Howard and Bradford
[27] presented an universal interface generator for a PDA, or mobile phone to control
various devices. Mayyora-Ibarra, Paz-Arroyo, Cambranes-Martinez and Fuentes-Penna
[28] proposed a tool for designing common user interfaces which could be transcoded to
multiple target languages, such as VoiceXML (Extensible Markup Language), J2ME
(Java 2 Micro Edition), HTML (HyperText Markup Language), and WML (Wireless
Markup Language).
Most research focused on generating a generic control interface for the mobile user,
rather than figures or pictures for the interface. Other researches were keen to develop a
user interface to retrieve figures or pictures from a server, rather than generating them
from the mobile phone itself.