Architecture of iMode
What is iMode?
Goal: Easily enjoy Internet services on mobile phone Overlay on top of DoPa packet network Subscriber:
New, advanced services on mobile device
A way to attract new users and increase revenue Users charged on per-packet basis (~0.22 cents/128byte) Payment collection for third-party information providers
Operator:
Statistics
iMode a huge success
Today, 80% of worlds wireless Internet users are in Japan (12.5% in Korea, 5% in Europe, 1% in USA)
2% of worlds population is in Japan
Zero to 26M subscribers in 2.5 years, 50K more per day 1,000 official sites; 30,000 voluntary sites Packet network launch 1997 iMode launch 1999 -> Lots of time to experiment and learn
Early deployment
Goals
Stick to telephone
Enjoy Internet without bulky, slow PDA or PC Users unaware of Internet Adapt browser to mobile device IP, TCP, HTTP, SSL, Java Allow third parties to provide information
Easy to use
Leverage Internet technologies
Media diversification
Architecture
Packet iMode Network Server (PDC-P)
Info. Provider Info. Provider Info. Provider
PC
Communication Network (PDC)
Internet
PSTN
Groupware Server
PC
Packet Network (PDC-P)
iMode Server M-SCP PGW
M-PGW M-PGW M-PGW I-MAX I-MAX I-MAX
IP
PPM
BS BS BS
PPM
BS
Interne t
IP
MS
MS
MS
MS
BS: Base Station PPM: Packet Processing Module PGW: Packet Gateway Module M-PGW: Mobile Message-Packet Gateway Module M-SCP: Mobile Service Control Point I-MAX: Interface-Mobile Access Exchanges
iMode Server
SW I-MAX1 I-MAX1 U-MAX M-MAX C-MAX W-MAX N-MAX SW RT
M-PGW
To PDC-P
M-PGW
To PDC-P
M-PGW SW
Customer Center
To PDC-P
I-MAX8 B-MAX D-MAX
SW
RT
Maintenance Terminal
SW
RT
SW
RT
ISP 1 ISP 2
Itemization Center
Sales Analytic Terminal Business Remote Terminal
Leased Line Leased Line Leased Line
RT RT RT
SW SW SW
F/W F/W F/W
Functions:
IP
Internet Access Proxy Mail Storage User Management Information charging
Protocols
TLP
Improved efficiency in PDC-P network over TCP (uses fewer packets to save charges) Higher data packet ratio No 3-way handshake, control signals can piggyback data Supports both pull (HTTP) and push style communication Direct HTTP communication between mobile phone and iMode server
ALP
UITP (User Information Transfer Protocol) sends subscriber information from PDC-P network to iMode server NWMP (Network Management Protocol) performs signaling
Start/end of packet communication E.g. email delivery, push content notification
HTML Mail
Telephony Function PDC
ALP (Application Layer Protocol) TLP (Transport Layer Protocol) PDC-P
iMode Server
ALP (Application Layer Protocol) TCP IP
Security
SSL (adopted March 2001)
End-to-end SSL(e-eSSL) with server-side authentication
Phones have pre-configured keys
Client-side authentication is future work
Non-repudiation is not yet possible
Can also do SSL just between IP and iMode server (s-sSSL) PDC-P network doesnt have to be trusted Can run applets from IP Java Application Manager (JAM) prevents access to handset
Java
Current and Future Services
Digital Music Distribution Car Navigation System Email Internet/web access E-Commerce Video-calls Streaming media Java Games Schedule Management File sharing BBS Multi-party Conferencing Workflow Management Mobile TV Interactive TV Video distribution Music Distribution Mobile Banking Concert Ticket Booking Club/Event Info Travel Service Downloadable Characters Credit Card Bill Inquiry Horse Racing Information Mobile Trading Location Information Karaoke Horoscope Fortune-telling CAD Dictionary search Complex vector graphics Restaurant guide Flash software Walking/driving/subway directions News Animated Mail Housing information Vending Machine Interface Weather forecast Telephone directory Airline information Hotel Reservation Discount Tour Info Stock Information Cooking Recipes
Application Scenario: Railroad Facility Management System
Japanese railroad companies use PDAs
Display diagrams of wires, tracks, signals, communications Collect data and workflow management Consider using iMode phone instead Too heavy, difficult to operate Low bandwidth (wired) No dynamic updates Expensive
Disadvantages of PDA:
Disadvantates of iMode phone
Small display size Spotty coverage (tunnels, near buildings) Low bandwidth (wireless)
M. Kikuchi, Y. Yagi, Use of iMode Cellular Phones for Facility Management System
Hardware Demands
Low Power Ics
Most power consumed by power amp New applications require more power
SSL, Multimedia, Java
Memory
10x larger memory required Non-volitile storage required for media downloading services
More colors, faster response speed => greater power drain Currently 30% of unit total weight (large)
LCD
Battery
H. Yazaki et. al., Overview of Advanced iMode Mobile Phones K. Enoki, iMode: The Mobile Internet Service of the 21st Century
Comparison with WAP/WML
WAP
Specification for presenting and interacting with information on wireless Sites based on new WML 39% of worlds wireless internet users Usually used over circuit switched connections Services business-oriented, work-oriented Anyone can produce content, content menus
iMode
Wireless internet service (could
be deployed over WAP)
Sites based on HTML (cHTML) 60% of worlds wireless
internet users Usually used over packet switched connections Services user-oriented, funoriented Anyone can produce content, DoCoMo operates content menus
Recent News
iMode Launch in USA via ATT wireless
Expected to launch soon Stripped down service
Currently being deployed in Europe by E-Plus
Already deployed in Germany
