Design and Implementation of Mobile Application Result Checker
Chapter One
Objective of the study
- To develop a Mobile Result Checker Application that will receive SMS from all kind of phones from all networks.
- The application will be able to notify users when they make an invalid request.
- The application should be able to provide security using password.
- The application will be relatively easy to customize.
CHAPTER TWO
Introduction
This chapter is concerned with the review of related literature, the contributions of other researchers is examined in this chapter. It looks at:
- GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)
- Short Message Service (SMS)
- Application Areas of SMS
- Mobile Phone
- Related work
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications, originally Groupe Spécial Mobile), is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe protocols for second-generation (2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile phones, first deployed in Finland in July 1992. As of 2014 it has become the default global standard for mobile communications – with over 90% market share, operating in over 219 countries and territories.
2G networks developed as a replacement for first generation (1G) analogue cellular networks, and the GSM standard originally described a digital, circuit-switched network optimized for full duplex voice telephony. This expanded over time to include data communications, first by circuit-switched transport, then by packet data transport via GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution or EGPRS).
Subsequently, the 3GPP developed third-generation (3G) UMTS standards followed by fourth-generation (4G) LTE Advanced standards, which do not form part of the ETSI GSM standard.
“GSM” is a trademark owned by the GSM Association. It may also refer to the (initially) most common voice codec used, Full Rate.
The GSM Network
GSM provides recommendations, not requirements. The GSM specifications define the functions and interface requirements in detail but do not address the hardware. The reason for this is to limit the designers as little as possible but still to make it possible for the operators to buy equipment from different suppliers. The GSM network is divided into three major systems: the switching system (SS), the base station system (BSS), and the operation and support system (OSS).
The Switching System
The switching system (SS) is responsible for performing call processing and subscriber-related functions. The switching system includes the following functional units:
- Home Location Register (HLR) —The HLR is a database used for storage and management of subscriptions. The HLR is considered the most important database, as it stores permanent data about subscribers, including a subscriber’s service profile, location information, and activity status. When an individual buys a subscription from one of the PCS operators, he or she is registered in the HLR of that operator.
- Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC) —The MSC performs the telephony switching functions of the system. It controls calls to and from other telephone and data systems. It also performs such functions as toll ticketing, network interfacing, common channel signalling, and others.
- Visitor Location Register (VLR) —The VLR is a database that contains temporary information about subscribers that is needed by the MSC in order to service visiting subscribers. The VLR is always integrated with the MSC. When a mobile station roams into a new MSC area, the VLR connected to that MSC will request data about the mobile station from the HLR. Later, if the mobile station makes a call, the VLR will have the information needed for call setup without having to interrogate the HLR each time.
- Authentication Center (AUC) —A unit called the AUC provides authentication and encryption parameters that verify the user’s identity and ensure the confidentiality of each call. The AUC protects network operators from different types of fraud found in today’s cellular world.
- Equipment Identity Register (EIR) —The EIR is a database that contains information about the identity of mobile equipment that prevents calls from stolen, unauthorized, or defective mobile stations. The AUC and EIR are implemented as stand-alone nodes or as a combined AUC/EIR node.
The Base Station System (BSS)
All radio-related functions are performed in the BSS, which consists of base station controllers (BSCs) and the base transceiver stations (BTSs).
- BSC —The BSC provides all the control functions and physical links between the MSC and BTS. It is a high-capacity switch that provides functions such as handover, cell configuration data, and control of radio frequency (RF) power levels in base transceiver stations. A number of BSCs are served by an MSC.
- BTS —The BTS handles the radio interface to the mobile station. The BTS is the radio equipment (transceivers and antennas) needed to service each cell in the network. A group of BTSs are controlled by a BSC.
The Operation and Support System
The operations and maintenance center (OMC) is connected to all equipment in the switching system and to the BSC. The implementation of OMC is called the operation and support system (OSS). The OSS is the functional entity from which the network operator monitors and controls the system. The purpose of OSS is to offer the customer cost-effective support for centralized, regional, and local operational and maintenance activities that are required for a GSM network. An important function of OSS is to provide a network overview and support the maintenance activities of different operation and maintenance organizations.
Additional Functional Elements
Other functional elements are as follows:
- Message Center (MXE) —The MXE is a node that provides integrated voice, fax, and data messaging. Specifically, the MXE handles short message service, cell broadcast, voice mail, fax mail, e-mail, and notification.
- Mobile Service Node (MSN) —The MSN is the node that handles the mobile intelligent network (IN) services.
- Gateway Mobile Services Switching Center (GMSC) — A gateway is a node used to interconnect two networks. The gateway is often implemented in an MSC. The MSC is then referred to as the GMSC.
- GSM interworking unit (GIWU) —The GIWU consists of both hardware and software that provides an interface to various networks for data communications. Through the GIWU, users can alternate between speech and data during the same call. The GIWU hardware equipment is physically located at the MSC/VLR.
GSM Network Areas
The GSM network is made up of geographic areas. These areas include cells, location areas (LAs), MSC/VLR service areas, and public land mobile network (PLMN) areas.
The cell is the area given radio coverage by one base transceiver station. The GSM network identifies each cell via the cell global identity (CGI) number assigned to each cell. The location area is a group of cells. It is the area in which the subscriber is paged. Each LA is served by one or more base station controllers, yet only by a single MSC. Each LA is assigned a location area identity (LAI) number.
An MSC/VLR service area represents the part of the GSM network that is covered by one MSC and which is reachable, as it is registered in the VLR of the MSC. The PLMN service area is an area served by one network operator
GSM Specifications
Before looking at the GSM specifications, it is important to understand the
following basic terms:
- Bandwidth —the range of a channel’s limits; the broader the bandwidth, the faster data can be sent
- Bits per second (bps) —a single on-off pulse of data; eight bits are equivalent to one byte.
- Frequency —the number of cycles per unit of time; frequency is measured in hertz (Hz).
- Kilo (k) —kilo is the designation for 1,000; the abbreviation kbps represents 1,000 bits per second.
- Megahertz (MHz) —1,000,000 hertz (cycles per second) • Milliseconds (ms) —one-thousandth of a second.
- Watt (W) —a measure of power of a transmitter Specifications for different personal communication services (PCS) systems vary among the different PCS networks. Listed below is a description of the specifications and characteristics for GSM.
- Frequency band —The frequency range specified for GSM is 1,850 to 1,990 MHz (mobile station to base station).
- Duplex distance —The duplex distance is 80 MHz. Duplex distance is the distance between the uplink and downlink frequencies. A channel has two frequencies, 80 MHz apart.
- Channel separation —The separation between adjacent carrier frequencies. In GSM, this is 200 kHz.
- Modulation —Modulation is the process of sending a signal by changing the characteristics of a carrier frequency. This is done in GSM via Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK).
- Transmission rate —GSM is a digital system with an over-the-air bit rate of 270 kbps.
- Access method —GSM utilizes the time division multiple access (TDMA) concept. TDMA is a technique in which several different calls may share the same carrier. Each call is assigned a particular time slot.
- Speech coder —GSM uses linear predictive coding (LPC). The purpose of LPC is to reduce the bit rate. The LPC provides parameters for a filter that mimics the vocal tract. The signal passes through this filter, leaving behind a residual signal. Speech is encoded at 13 kbps.
CHAPTER THREE
SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
Introduction
This chapter takes an overviews on the system design and the entire research work, it is important to note that a poorly designed system will equally produce an incorrect output as such this chapter presents a skeletal approach to the design of the entire system.
Research Methodology
A software development methodology or system development methodology is a frame work that is used to structure, plan and control the process of developing an information system. The methodology employed for the development of the system is the spiral development. The spiral development model comprises the elements of both design and prototyping. The model has four stages namely:
- Planning
- Analysis
- Evaluation
- Development
The data used for the development of the research was gotten from the internet, textbooks and articles. The contributions of other researchers on the subject were examined so as to gather relevant information.
System Analysis
System analysis has to do with examining a system in order to understand its step by step operations so as to identify its benefits and areas of limitation that require improvements.
Analysis of the existing system
In the existing system, checking examination result is done manually or by visiting school portals. A typical example is when a student rush to the department to check his/her result after receiving the new that the semester result is out.
Problems of the existing system
The problems of the existing system include; it is time consuming, results are not checked at student’s convenience.
Analysis of the proposed system
The system uses the short messaging service (SMS), which leverages the readily available infrastructure provided by GSM operators to provide a means of cheap and fast communication between the students and the university. Although a few SMS result checking system already implement the use of password, such system was proposed by Pramsane and Sanjaya (2006). This system implements the same form of security, and further provides access to new and old results. It also provides two options of requesting for examination result. The SMS result checking system works using client-server architecture and can be either implemented as a dependent service or independent service. The system described here is deployed as a dependent service; this implies that the server (with the SMS application) has a phone with a standard SIM card connected to it.
The SMS server receives SMS messages from the users and processes the message by connecting to the database that holds the details and grades. The SMS server receives all SMS via the GSM terminal connected to the computer, it then connects to the database to authenticate the user and query for the results via the appropriate database connector like Open Database Connectivity (ODBC).
To request a result, the user sends his registration number or matriculation number, along with a password (for security and privacy) to the designated number. Students can include specific details like the level (year) and semester for which they want to check their result. They can also request for a full (with the breakdown) or a brief reply (just the GPA). The application queries the database and filters out the user’s result appropriately after which it sends the examination result back to the user through the GSM terminal.
CHAPTER FOUR
SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION
Introduction
This chapter presents the system flow chart, analysis of modules, choice of programming language and programming environment.
System Design Diagram
CHAPTER FIVE
Introduction
This chapter focuses on summary, conclusion and recommendations.
Here, the entire summary of the research from the problem stage to the implementation stage, the relevant conclusion and recommendations are discussed.
Constraints of the Study
The problems encountered during the course of carrying out this research project include:
- Time: Time for the research project was too short coupled with researcher’s academic time table.
- Fund: There was limited fund to take care of the research properly in terms of transportation and other expenses especially when visiting attraction sites.
- Research Materials: Lack of access to research materials on the topic in the polytechnic library and even public libraries were also major constraint in the cause of this project.
Summary
Implementation of a MOBILE APPLICATION RESULT CHECKER for result checking has been carried out with an SMS feature.
The manual method of checking result at the departments and visiting portal has been so stressful, time consuming and always at a high cost in terms of data charges when visiting portals. The new system would be very easy to use because of its accuracy and reliability. Information about student’s can be promptly assessed easily.
Conclusion
SMS result checking is an innovative approach to examination result checking and it should be ideally accepted by universities in addition to existing means like website, email and IVRS.
The number of mobile phone users is daily on the increase, and mobile phones complete our clothing today. The fact that fixed wireless phones, land line phones etc all have the capability to send and receive SMS also makes it a viable option.
Finally, most parents, guardians or sponsors who are not computer literate and not familiar with the use of the internet, will be probably comfortable with sending and receiving SMS. This way, they can request for the results or receive them directly from the school. Also, adopting the PUSH approach with SMS provides an advantage over email because it is immediate. Students would receive the grades almost instantly, unlike emails where they wouldn’t until they check their emails.
Recommendations
The Mobile Application Result Checking System can be fully integrated into existing information systems like the school’s web system, such that the application leverages existing hardware systems and components like databases etc. The system can also be adapted as means of dissemination short information quickly, and performing activities like evaluation. Additional study is also done to consider how the system can be further secured, and further research work is carried out on SMS and it application. One of such is the use of SMS as a communication tool between computers where a computer network connection is not feasible either with cables or wireless.
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