WAP- Wireless Application

Protocol
by
Team 11 Presenters:
Suma Pramod Connie Barbosa
Niti Pandey Patrick Cunning
Olga Pavlenko

04/11/2002
 Overview
WAP Introduction
WAP architecture requirements
Architecture overview
World-wide web model
WAP model
Components of WAP architecture
Sample Configuration of WAP technology
Usage, Advantages & Disadvantages of WAP
Summary
 WAP- Wireless Application
Protocol
An open, global specification that empowers
mobile users with wireless devices to easily
access and interact with internet information
and services instantly.

The wireless industry came up with the idea

of WAP. The point of this standard was to
show internet contents on wireless clients,
like mobile phones.
 WAP stands for Wireless Application
Protocol
o WAP is an application communication
protocol
o WAP is used to access services and
information
o WAP is inherited from Internet standards
o WAP is for handheld devices such as mobile
phones
o WAP is a protocol designed for micro
browsers
o WAP enables the creating of web
applications for mobile devices.
o WAP uses the mark-up language WML (not
HTML) WML is defined as an XML 1.0
application
The WAP specifications continue to be developed by
contributing members, who, through interoperability
testing, have brought WAP into the limelight of the
mobile data marketplace with fully functional WAP
enabled devices as shown below:
The basic AIM of WAP is to provide a web-like
experience on small portable devices - like mobile phones
and PDAs.
Purpose of WAP

To enable easy, fast delivery of relevant information

and services to mobile users.

Type of devices that use WAP

Handheld digital wireless devices such as mobile

phones, pagers, two-way radios, smart phones and
communicators -- from low-end to high-end.

WAP works with most Wireless networks such as:

CDPD, CDMA, GSM, PDC, PHS, TDMA, FLEX,
ReFLEX, iDEN, TETRA, DECT, DataTAC, Mobitex.
Operating systems that are compatible with WAP
WAP is a communications protocol and an application
environment.

WAP is independent of OS that means WAP can be

implemented on any OS.

It can be built on any operating system including Palm

OS, EPOC 32, Windows CE, FLEXOS, OS/9, Java OS,
etc. It provides service interoperability even between
different device families.
 WAP Architecture
Requirements
Leverage existing standards whenever
possible
Define a layered, scaleable and extensible
architecture
Support as many wireless networks as
possible
Optimize for narrow-band bearers with high
latency
 WAP Architecture
Requirements (Contd.)
Optimize for efficient use of device
resources
Provide support for secure applications and
communication
 Architecture Overview

WWW programming model is optimized and

extended to match characteristics of the
wireless environment

Utilizes proxy technology to connect

between the wireless domain and WWW
World-Wide Web Model

Web Server

Client
Request CGI,
(URL) Scripts,
Etc.
Web
Browser
Response
(Content)
Content
 WAP Programming Model

Gateway Web Server

Client Encoded Request

CGI,
Request (URL)
Encoders Scripts,
WAE And Etc.
User Decoders
Agent Encoded Response
Response (Content)
Content
 WAP Device
- Is used to access WAP applications and
content. It might be a PDA, handheld
computer.

WAP Client
- Entity that receives content from Internet via a
WAP Gateway. This is usually the WAP
Browser.

WAP Content/Origin/Application Server

- Element in the network where the information
or web/WAP applications resides.
 WAP Proxy
- Acts both as a client and as a server in the
network.Typically has
Protocol gateway : translates requests from the
WAP protocol stack to WWW protocol stack
Content encoders and decoders : translate WAP
content into compact encoded formats to reduce
the size of data over the network
It allows content and applications to be
hosted on standard WWW servers and
developed using proven WWW technologies
such as CGI scripting
 WAP Gateway
- Intermediary element used to connect two different
types of network. It receives request directly from
the clients as if it actually were the origin server that
clients want to receive the information form. The
clients are usually unaware that they are speaking to
the Gateway.
WAP Browser
Software running on the WAP device that
interprets the WAP content arriving from the
internet and decides how to display it on WAP
device.
WML
WML Wireless Markup Language formerly
called HDML (Handheld Devices Markup
Language)
Is a tag language that allows the text portions of
Web Pages to be presented on cellular phones and
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) via wireless
access.
WML is used for delivering data to WAP devices,
and is HTML- like in its appearance.
An alternative to WML is I-Modes cHTML
language.
 WAP Network Example
Web WML WAP
Server Proxy

WML
HTML
Wireless WAP
HTML Client
Filter Network

WTA
Server
WWW Protocol Stack

HTML
Java Script

HTTP

TLS - SSL

TCP/IP
UDP/IP
 Components of WAP
Architecture
Application Layer (WAE)
Other Services
And Applications
Session Layer (WSP)

Transaction Layer (WTP)

Security Layer (WTLS)

Transport Layer (WDP)

Bearers :
GSM CDMA PHS IS-136 CDPD PDC-P FLEX Etc
 Wireless Application Environment
(WAE)
General-purpose application environment
based on a combination of WWW and
mobile telephony technologies.
It defines the user interface on the phone. It
contains WML and WTA (Wireless
Telephony Application).
Primary objective interoperable
environment.
Wireless Application Environment
(Contd.)
WAE includes a micro-browser (Client software
designed to overcome challenges of mobile handheld
devices that enables wireless access to services such
as Internet information in combination with a
suitable network) server environment which provides
WML
WML script
WTA
Content formats
Wireless Session Protocol (WSP)
The WAP session protocol (WSP) layer provides
a lightweight session layer to allow efficient
exchange of data between applications.

Application layer with a consistent interface for

two session services
Connection-oriented service that operates
above the transaction layer protocol (WTP)
Connectionless service that operates above a
secure or non-secure datagram service (WDP)

Optimized for low-bandwidth bearer networks

with long latency
 Wireless Transaction Protocol
(WTP)
Runs on top of a datagram service
The WAP transaction protocol (WTP) layer
provides transaction support, adding reliability to
the datagram service provided by WDP.
Light weight transaction-oriented protocol
Three classes of transaction services
Unreliable one-way requests
Reliable one-way requests
Reliable two-way request-reply transactions
 Wireless Transport Layer
Security (WTLS)
Based on industry-standard Transport Layer
Security (TLS) protocol
Optimized for use over narrow-band
communication channels
Features:
Data integrity
Privacy
Authentication
Denial-of-service protection
 Wireless Datagram Protocol
(WDP)
The WAP datagram protocol (WDP) is the
Transport layer that sends and receives messages
via any available bearer network, including SMS,
USSD, CSD, CDPD, IS136 packet data, and
GPRS.

Operates above the data capable bearer services

supported by various network types.

Provides a common interface to the upper layer

protocols and hence they function independent of
the underlying wireless network.
 Bearers

Differing levels of quality of service with

respect to throughput, error rate, and delays
WAP protocols are designed to compensate
for or tolerate these varying levels of
service
WDP specification lists the bearers that are
supported and techniques used to allow
WAP protocols to run over each bearer
 Mobile-Originated Example of WAP
Architecture
The request from the mobile device is sent as a URL
through the operator's network to the WAP gateway,
which is the interface between the operator's network
and the Internet as shown in the figure below.
 USAGE
- Corporate Applications: Sales force automation
where sales people use their WAP enabled handsets to
get instant, direct access to the latest pricing, latest
news, competitive information any time, anywhere.
- Online Services:
Banking: Users can get their current balance,
transfer funds between accounts and receive fax of a
mini-statement.
Electronic Commerce: Subscribers can use their
handset just like their PC to purchase products and
services over the Web.
- Tele services
Prepaid Services: With a WAP-enabled phone,
prepaid subscribers can see their current balance with
the press of a button. By pressing another button,
they can also recharge their account by entering a
credit card or voucher number into the handset.

- Personal Productivity
Email: Using WAP users can keep track of their
email right from their handset.
- Others include:
- Interactive Chat
- Auctions
- Games
The ADVANTAGES that WAP can offer over these other
methods are the following:
open standard, vendor independent
network-standard independent
transport mechanismoptimized for wireless data
bearers
application downloaded from the server, enabling
fast service creation and introduction, as opposed to
embedded software
 DISADVANTAGES of WAP

Small screens: For web phones, there's an incredibly small

viewing area; palmtops are barely better.
Speed of access: All devices have slow access.
Limited or fragmented availability: Wireless web access is
sporadic in many areas and entirely unavailable in other
areas.
Price: Many technology limitations are being addressed by
higher-end devices and services. But the entry price for a
good wireless web palmtop with decent display, keyboard,
and speed is easily $700 to $900, not including monthly
access.
Lack of user habit: It takes some patience and overcoming
the learning curve to get the hang of it -- connecting, putting
in an address, typing. Users just aren't used to the idea and
protocol yet.

Summary

WAP provides a markup language and a transport protocol that

open the possibilities of the wireless environment and give players
from all levels of the industry the opportunity to access an
untapped market that is still in its infancy.
The bearer-independent nature of WAP has proved to be a long-
awaited breath of fresh air for an industry riddled with multiple
proprietary standards that have suffocated the advent of a new
wave of mobile-Internet communications. WAP is an enabling
technology that, through gateway infrastructure deployed in
mobile operator's network, will bridge the gap between the mobile
world and the Internet, bringing sophisticated solutions to mobile
users, independent of the bearer and network.
Backed by 75 percent of the companies behind the world's
mobile telephone market and the huge development potential of
WAP, the future for WAP looks bright.
 References
Websites:

Books:
Beginning WAP Wrox Publications
Dynamic WAP Application Development-
Manning Publications, Inc