JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

DILOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

DIT 0411 MOBILE COMPUTING

Prerequisite: DIT 0204 Network Essentials

Course Purpose
Students will review the basic concepts and principles in mobile computing. This includes the major
techniques involved, and networks and systems issues for the design and implementation of mobile
computing systems and applications.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this course, the student should be able to:
i. Describe wireless and mobile communications.
ii. Explain the foundations of wireless and mobile technologies.
iii. Explain cellular telephony.

Course Description
Introduction to wireless and mobile communication; Technical foundations of wireless and mobile
technologies, Wireless and mobile communication application protocols e.g. communication in office
in business firm, human computer dialogue. Computer Networking, Communication architecture,
Communication network structure, Mobile Computing Architecture. Mobile Computing through
Telephony; Bluetooth , Cellular telephony , Wireless LAN’s ,Public services of telecommunications,
Emerging Technologies , Information transmission; Analogue data, Digital data, Wireless, Satellite
communications, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Global positioning system,
Short Message Service (SMS), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Wireless Application Protocol
(WAP), CDMA and 3G, Voice Over Internet Protocol and Convergence. Paging Systems; Trends in
wireless and mobile communication; Development of mobile communication, Future of
telecommunications, Legal issues in telecommunications, Tariffs, Challenges and shortcomings in
mobile communication

Course Schedule
Wee Topic Subtopic
k
1 Registration and Introduction Course overview
2 Review of Computer Networks  Communications networks and data communications, the
Lab 1 Internet, internet protocol Stack, HTTP and TCP/IP
 Computer Networking, Communication architecture,
Communication network structure
 Information transmission; Analogue data, Digital data

Overview of technologies for  Wireless and mobile communication (Wired vs. Wireless)
wireless communication  Classification of wireless network,
Lab 2  Mobile Computing Architecture
 Enabling technologies for mobile computing
 Wireless and mobile communication application protocols
 Market place growth and dominant technologies

3 Wireless Technologies I  Operational principles behind major wireless networks

Lab 3 o Wireless LAN, Wireless MAN, Cellular Networks
 IEEE 802.11 Series and its characteristics
ASSIGNMENT I o 802. 11 a/g, n, e and Bluetooth

1
  Major types of wireless networks:
o Wireless LAN, Wireless MAN, WPAN, Cellular
Networks
 WLAN: WiFi technology and applications
o Adhoc vs. infrastructure mode
o WIFI Standards and protocols
 Comparison of infrastructure and ad-hoc networks Wireless
Networks

4 Wireless Technologies II, Lab 4  Major types of wireless networks:

o WPAN: Bluetooth technology and applications
 Applications, issues and challenges with PANs
 PAN Standards and protocols
o WMAN: WiMAx technology and applications
 WWAN communication protocols

5 Wireless Technologies III, Lab  Major types of wireless networks:

5 o WWAN: Cellular Network System
CAT I o WWAN: GSM Network System

Wireless Middleware  Definition and working of wireless middleware

 Functions and examples of wireless middleware

6 Routing in Ad-hoc Networks, Routing protocols as used in ad-hoc network

Lab 6
Context & Location Awareness  Context Awareness
ASSIGNMENT II  Location Awareness

Wireless transmissions  Types of antennae, antennae propagation mode

 Wireless Impairments: Attenuation
 Noise; Categories of noise, other impairments

7 Data Transmission in Cellular  Data transmission in cellular network systems

Network Systems, Lab 7  Circuit switched data services
 GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G, Over Internet
Protocol, Paging Systems
 Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Global
positioning system, Short Message Service (SMS)
 Location management in cellular networks

Value Added Services (VANs)  Existing mobile communication technologies VANs e.g.
Safaricom, Airtel, Orange

8 Mobile IP, Lab 8  Protocols for mobile networks: TCP/IP and the mobile IP
protocol
CAT II  Motivation and stages of mobile IP design
 Security considerations of mobile IP design

IPV4, IPV6  Mobile IP V4 and mobile IP V6

 Differences between the two versions of Mobile IP and
advantages of IP V6.

2
9 Mobile Databases, Lab 9  Define mobile databases, wireless sensor networks and their
ASSIGNMENT III importance
 Mobile database architecture

Sensor Networks and  Characteristics of wireless sensor networks

Applications  Software and hardware needs of wireless sensor networks
 Challenges and design principles of wireless sensor networks
RFID and NFC
Wearables and Pervasive  RFID and NFC
Computing, Lab 10  Wearables and Pervasive Computing

Mobile Intelligence  Introduction to SS7

 SS7 Architecture
 WIN, INAP, and CAMEL Capabilities

10 Basics of Mobile Apps &  WAP Application environment, Client software, hardware and
Development: Wireless websites, gateways
Application Protocol (WAP),  Implementing enterprise strategy
Lab 11

11 Basics of Mobile Apps &  Fundamentals of WML

Development: Wireless Markup  XML: Document and Meta-Data format for mobile computing
Language (WML), Lab 12  Writing and formatting text, navigating between cards and
CAT III decks, displaying images, tables, using variables, acquiring
user input

12 Basics of Mobile Apps &  An Introduction to WMLScript

Development: Wireless Markup  Control structures, events, phone.com extensions, usability
Language Script, Lab 13, 14

13 Application of Mobile  Developing WAP Applications using Emulators

Computing: Mobile Commerce  Drivers of M-Commerce
Lab 5  Mobile Shopping, Advertising, & Content, Mobile Enterprise
and supply chain, Mobile Personal & consumer service
applications
 Location-Based Mobile Commerce
 Security and other implementation issues in M-Commerce

14 Case Studies and Summary Revision and Project Presentations

Teaching Methodologies
Lectures, assignment, practical and tutorial sessions in Computer Laboratory, individual and group
assignments, exercises and project work

Instructional Materials/Equipment
LCD projector and computer, handouts, white boards, appropriate application software and internet.

Course Assessment
40% Continuous Assessment (Tests 10%, Assignment 10%, Practical 20%)
60% End of Semester Exams

Course Textbooks

3
1. Rogers G.S & Edwards J. S (2005), Wireless technology, Prentice Hall (ISBN 0-13-09486) C.
Kavitha,
2. Mobile Computing for Dummies (2005), Briefcase Quick Reference (Paperback) Created by Idg
(2008), Books Worldwide ISBN 13: 9781568849744
3. Martin J. (2001) Telecommunications and the computer, Prentice Hall International,ISBN 056-
7857-7899

Reference Textbooks:
1. Melanie McMullen (2006), Network Remote Access and Mobile Computing: Implementing
Effective Remote Access to Networks and E-mail ISBN 13: 9780879303341
2. C. Kavitha (2009), Mobile Computing for Dummies, Briefcase Quick Reference (Paperback)
Created by Idg Books Worldwide ISBN 13: 9781568849744
3. Ian Davis (2010), Fundamentals of Mobile Computing, ISBN 13: 9789380408262

Course Journals
1. Acta Informatica ISSN 0001-5903
2. Advances in Computational Mathematics ISSN 1019-7168
3. Advances in data Analysis and Classification ISSN1 1862-5347
4. Annals Of software Engineering ISSN 1022-7091

Reference Journals
1. Journal of computer science and Technology ISSN 1000-9000
2. Journal of Science and Technology ISSN 1860-4749
3. Central European Journal Of Computer Science ISSN 1896-1533
4. Cluster computing ISSN 1386-7857