A Disruption-Tolerant Model for Building a Mobile Application Using Web Service

Abstract

Problem statement: The emerging technology in broadband telecommunication and mobile devices has increased the use of mobile applications. However, the use of mobile application is affected with low bandwidth or disrupted broadband telecommunication due to building blockage or out of coverage area. Approach: We proposed a Disruption-Tolerant Mobile Application Model (DTMA) that enables remote data access and overcomes constraint due to dysfunctional telecommunication. The interview process of Educational Service Officer at the Malaysian Educational Service Commissioner (MESC) is selected as the case study. Design of the mobile application is based on the Smart Client and wireless Internet application concepts. The main components of the model are mobile devices with its own processing power, data storage, business logic and Web service. These features enable the application to become disruption-tolerant, which can be run even when communication line is not available or disrupted. In order to prove that the proposed model is effective, a prototype based on the DTMA model is developed and evaluated. Results: The prototype is known as Mobile Interview Information System (MIIS) and it was developed using Visual Basic and .Net’s programming language in .NET Framework. Visual Studio is used as the platform. Users have performed MIIS testing and DTMA usability assessment in a real environment. The test showed that MIIS based on the DTMA model is disruption-tolerant. MIIS enables information to be accessed and updated even in a disrupted network. MIIS also enables information to be accessed and transmitted from or to the MESC’s headquarter via mobile devices. Further, MIIS enables the interview process to be implemented in a more efficient manner without any disruption. Conclusion: Mobile application developed based on the proposed DTMA model was proved to be disruption tolerant. Such application can save time, operational cost and improve the business process in terms of data integrity, mobile access and high availability.