The improvement in the field of mobile communications has led to latest technologies and devices [1]. The passing generations of mobile communications and computing have seen the evolution of smartphones from mobile phones. These phones encapsulate the capaci- ties of uploading and downloading data to and from a PC, FM radio, television viewing,
sending and receiving e-mails, camera, and Internet connectivity [1]. These devices bring the world to the hands of the users with the help of providing information related to anything, anytime, and anywhere. Some of the applications of mobile communication are pictorially depicted in Figure 1.10.
1.5.1 Smartphones
A smartphone is a handheld device with computation capabilities [1]. It provides features of an ordinary mobile phone and has various other advanced features. The features of smartphones are tabulated in Table 1.8 [1].
1.5.2 Digital Music Players
The vast range of applications provided by mobile communications has transformed the field of user entertainment and the way of listening to music in the form of the digital music players [1]. These players consist of software and portable music players that can
Smartphones iPod Bluetooth
Smartcards Smartlabels Smart systems Smart tokens GPS Wi-Fi Actuators Sensors FIGURE 1.10
Applications of mobile communication.
TABLE 1.8
Features of Smartphone
1. It provides GSM or CDMA interface with the core network made available by the mobile service provider. 2. It comes with a keypad which allows the facility to enter text data by pressing a numeric keypad a multiple
number of times.
3. It comes with a high-quality LCD screen.
4. It provides features like sending and receiving SMS and MMS, contact list, call logs, calculator, task-to-do list, alarm clock, calendar, memo, location detection services, voice and video chat services.
5. These devices are WAP, Wi-Fi, or Internet enabled for accessing web pages and downloading data. 6. Provides features like games, e-business and e-ticketing.
7. Provisioning of features like MP3 audio and MP4 video formats. Cameras are employed for viewing still pictures as well video recording. Picture editing features are also available with these devices.
play music files encoded in formats like MP3 and Real-media on mobile devices [1]. They make use of flash memory. They have a storage capability of about 128 MB to 80 GB and can store more than 15,000 songs. The players with flash memory can be used as a storage device. The media players commonly used these days support the playback of both video and audio. The leading device in the player market is the iPod. iPods are players with the flash memory enabled. They include both video and audio players. Present day iPods incorporate the features of transferring, storing, managing, and playing videos and audios as well as displaying photos. Any media file downloaded in iPod or PC can be transferred one way or both ways.
1.5.3 Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Bluetooth versions 1.2, 2.1, and 3.0 are used in mobile devices [1]. Bluetooth 1.2 and 2.1 have a data throughput of 1 and 3 MHz, respectively, and can be used to transfer contact information and files [1]. Bluetooth 3.0 has a data throughput of 24 MHz and is capable of transferring video files [1]. Wi-Fi versions popular these days are 802.11b and 802.11n [1]. They support a data rate of about 54 Mbps to 600 Mbps. It is used in the frequency bands 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz [1]. Bluetooth technology is constructive when transporting information between two or more devices that are close to each other when the speed of data transfer is insignificant, such as that of phones, printing devices, modems, and headphones. It is excellently suited to low-bandwidth applications such as transferring audio with Bluetooth headset or files with handheld computers or keyboard and mice. Wi-Fi is suitable for func- tioning full-scale networks because of speedy connection, improved coverage from the base station, and enhanced security services compared to Bluetooth [1].
1.5.4 GPS
Current mobile devices have a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, which provides the location information, or it may receive the GPS location from the service provider [1,12]. GPS is a satellite-based system that gives information related to the location and time irre- spective of the weather conditions. The system is highly beneficial in military, civil, and commercial world [12].
1.5.5 Smart Systems
Smart systems with embedded computational abilities are one of the major applications of mobile communication. Smart systems provide efficient and remote access to devices [1]. These devices are used over a wide range and have numerous applications in daily lives. Some of the smart systems are as follows:
• Smartcards • Smart labels • Smart tokens • Sensors • Actuators 1.5.5.1 Smartcards
Smartcards are small cards with computational capabilities embedded. These cards are capable of storing and updating data. There are two types of smartcards: contact
smartcards and contactless smartcards [1]. The gold-plated pins on the chips of contact smartcards facilitate contact with the circuit of the card reader on inserting the card [1]. Contactless smartcards communicate with the card reader via radio frequency technology on holding it close to the reader. These cards consist of a fabrication key, a personaliza- tion key, and a utilization lock. The fabrication key is used to uniquely identify the card. Personalization key is used by the server to activate the card for different transactions. The utilization card is used to lock or unlock the card. The applications of smartcards include the following [1]:
• Monetary transactions like a credit card or an ATM card • Storing bank account balance after any transaction
• Storing information like personal ID or photo or other personal information • Storing medical information of the card holder
• Used by doctors to get faster access to patients’ medical information
• Used by the employees in an organization to open security locks and logging • Issued to students for borrowing library books
1.5.5.2 Smart Labels
Smart labels are used to identify the contents of a package. For example, the barcode labels on a book pack identify the publisher, the title, the author, the date of publication, and the reprint edition of the book. These labels can also be used for identifying the prod- uct details and the price. Smart labels consist of the processor, memory, transmitter, receiver, and antenna [1]. These cards are charged by the received signals and use wireless communication.
1.5.5.3 Smart Tokens
Smart tokens are used for authentication prior to entry into any restricted area. It consists of processor and memory embedded in the chip. These are small-size systems, almost the size of a button or pen nib, and can be used for the following purposes [1]:
• To authenticate employees before entry to an office • To open car doors remotely
• To authenticate parcels sent to the defense departments
1.5.5.4 Sensors
Sensors are electronic devices capable of sensing physical environment such as tempera- ture, pressure, light, dust, smoke, and distance from any object [1]. Smart sensors consist of a processor and memory. In mobile devices, sensors provide communication with other devices as well as the surrounding environment. Some applications of the sensors are the following [1]:
• Background noise detection and voice intensification at the time of a call • Controlling the brightness of an LCD screen
• Measuring signal strength and strengthening signals • Measuring angular velocities
• Turning a device on and off
1.5.5.5 Actuators
Actuators operate by receiving a signal from a central controller and activating a physical device. A smart actuator receives a signal from mobile devices, computers, or controllers. Sensor and actuator together can be used to manage other systems such as, for example, a sensor actuator pair for controlling an oven temperature or pressure [1].