WAPWAP

Mrs. Vasanthi Mrs. Vasanthi MuniasamyMuniasamy

WHAT IS WAP?WHAT IS WAP?

WAP is Wireless Application ProtocolWAP is Wireless Application Protocol

WAPWAP is an is an open international standard for for application layer network network communications in a communications in a wireless communication environment. Its environment. Its main use is to enable access to the main use is to enable access to the Internet (HTTP) from a mobile phone or (HTTP) from a mobile phone or PDA. PDA.

WHAT IS PROTOCOL?WHAT IS PROTOCOL?

A A ProtocolProtocol is a set of guidelines or is a set of guidelines or rules. rules.

In In computing and internetcomputing and internet

FEATURES OF WAPFEATURES OF WAP

WAP stands for WAP stands for WWireless ireless AApplication pplication PProtocol rotocol WAP is anWAP is an application communication protocol application communication protocol WAP is used to WAP is used to access services and informationaccess services and information WAP is WAP is inheritedinherited from Internet standards from Internet standards WAP is for WAP is for handheld deviceshandheld devices such as such as mobile mobile

phonesphones WAP is a WAP is a protocolprotocol designed for designed for micro browsersmicro browsers WAP enables the creating of WAP enables the creating of web applicationsweb applications for for

mobile devices. mobile devices. WAP uses the WAP uses the mark-up language WMLmark-up language WML (not (not

HTML) HTML) WML is defined as an WML is defined as an XML 1.0XML 1.0 application application

WAP Micro BrowsersWAP Micro Browsers

To fit into a small wireless terminal, WAP uses To fit into a small wireless terminal, WAP uses a Micro Browser.a Micro Browser.

A Micro Browser is a small piece of software A Micro Browser is a small piece of software that makes minimal demands on hardware, that makes minimal demands on hardware, memory and CPU. It can display information memory and CPU. It can display information written in a restricted mark-up language written in a restricted mark-up language called WML.called WML.

The Micro Browser can also interpret a The Micro Browser can also interpret a reduced version of JavaScript called reduced version of JavaScript called WMLScript.WMLScript.

COMPONENTS OF WAPCOMPONENTS OF WAPWMLWML

WML stands for WML stands for WWireless ireless MMarkup arkup LLanguage. It is a mark-up language anguage. It is a mark-up language inherited from HTML, but WML is based on inherited from HTML, but WML is based on XML, so it is much stricter than HTML.XML, so it is much stricter than HTML.

Differs from HTML in the followingDiffers from HTML in the following WML was WML was specifically designed for wirelessspecifically designed for wireless

terminalsterminals with a target screen that is only a with a target screen that is only a few lines long and about an inch wide.few lines long and about an inch wide.

WML is WML is case sensitivecase sensitive, and all tags and , and all tags and attributes should be in lowercase.attributes should be in lowercase.

WML doesn't assume that a keyboard or a WML doesn't assume that a keyboard or a mouse is available for usermouse is available for user inputinput

WAP Components (contd)…WAP Components (contd)…

WAP GatewayWAP Gateway EncoderEncoder: converts WML to binarized : converts WML to binarized

WMLWML AdaptorAdaptor: provides additional information : provides additional information

through HTTP headerthrough HTTP header Translate HTTP requests to WSP.Translate HTTP requests to WSP. Convert between SSL and WTLSConvert between SSL and WTLS Convert transport protocols (TCP and WDPConvert transport protocols (TCP and WDP

WML ScriptWML Script

WML uses WML Script to run simple WML uses WML Script to run simple code on the client. WML Script is a code on the client. WML Script is a light JavaScript language. However, light JavaScript language. However, WML scripts are not embedded in the WML scripts are not embedded in the WML pages. WML pages only WML pages. WML pages only contains references to script URLs. contains references to script URLs. WML scripts need to be compiled into WML scripts need to be compiled into byte code on a server before they byte code on a server before they can run in a WAP browser. can run in a WAP browser.

WAP HomepagesWAP Homepages

WAP homepages are not very different WAP homepages are not very different from HTML homepages. The markup from HTML homepages. The markup language used for WAP is WML (Wireless language used for WAP is WML (Wireless Markup Language). WML uses tags - just Markup Language). WML uses tags - just like HTML - but the syntax is stricter and like HTML - but the syntax is stricter and conforms to the XML 1.0 standard.conforms to the XML 1.0 standard.

WML pages have the extension *.WML, just WML pages have the extension *.WML, just like HTML pages have the extension like HTML pages have the extension *.HTML.*.HTML.

WML TagsWML Tags

WML is mostly about text. Tags that would WML is mostly about text. Tags that would slow down the communication with slow down the communication with handheld devices are not a part of the handheld devices are not a part of the WML standard. The use of tables and WML standard. The use of tables and images is strongly restricted. images is strongly restricted. 

Since WML is an XML application, all tags Since WML is an XML application, all tags are case sensitive (<wml> is not the same are case sensitive (<wml> is not the same as <WML>), and all tags must be properly as <WML>), and all tags must be properly closed.closed.

Example of WML …Example of WML …

..Card

InputElements

Navigation

Variables

<WML> <CARD> <DO TYPE=“ACCEPT”> <GO URL=“#eCard”/> </DO Welcome! </CARD> <CARD NAME=“eCard”> <DO TYPE=“ACCEPT”> <GO URL=“/submit?N=$(N)&S=$(S)”/> </DO> Enter name: <INPUT KEY=“N”/> Choose speed: <SELECT KEY=“S”> <OPTION VALUE=“0”>Fast</OPTION> <OPTION VALUE=“1”>Slow</OPTION> <SELECT> </CARD></WML>

WML Decks and CardsWML Decks and Cards

WML pages are called DECKS. They are WML pages are called DECKS. They are constructed as a set of CARDS, related constructed as a set of CARDS, related to each other with links. When a WML to each other with links. When a WML page is accessed from a mobile phone, page is accessed from a mobile phone, all the cards in the page are all the cards in the page are downloaded from the WAP server. downloaded from the WAP server. Navigation between the cards is done Navigation between the cards is done by the phone computer - inside the by the phone computer - inside the phone - without any extra access trips phone - without any extra access trips to the server. to the server.

Limitations of Internet for Limitations of Internet for Wireless ApplicationsWireless Applications

Traditional Internet applications cannot Traditional Internet applications cannot run on mobile devices because of the run on mobile devices because of the following limitations:following limitations: Low bandwidth networkLow bandwidth network High Latency networkHigh Latency network Limited connection stabilityLimited connection stability Small display size Small display size Limited input facilityLimited input facility Limited memoryLimited memory Limited processing powerLimited processing power

WAP brings Internet to Hand-WAP brings Internet to Hand-held Devicesheld Devices

WAP handles limited bandwidthWAP handles limited bandwidth Minimizes traffic over wireless interfaceMinimizes traffic over wireless interface WSPWSP layer, too, is binary encoded layer, too, is binary encoded WTPWTP is not only designed to minimize amount of data is not only designed to minimize amount of data

but also number of transactionsbut also number of transactions

WAP handles high latencyWAP handles high latency WAEWAE uses scripting to avoid round trip delays, e.g. by uses scripting to avoid round trip delays, e.g. by

validating user input locallyvalidating user input locally WTAIWTAI environment introduces a environment introduces a repositoryrepository to hold to hold

services that should be started in response to an event services that should be started in response to an event in mobile network, e.g. incoming call.in mobile network, e.g. incoming call.

WAP brings (contd)…WAP brings (contd)…

WAP handles less stable WAP handles less stable connectionsconnections The sessions supported by The sessions supported by WSPWSP are assumed to be long-lived. are assumed to be long-lived. WTPWTP layer has been kept very simple compared to TCP layer has been kept very simple compared to TCP WTPWTP supports selective retransmission of data supports selective retransmission of data

WAP handles WAP handles smallsmall displays displays WMLWML structures its documents in structures its documents in ‘Decks & Cards’‘Decks & Cards’ When an application is executed, user navigates through a series When an application is executed, user navigates through a series

of cardsof cards

WAP brings (contd)…WAP brings (contd)… WAP handles limited input WAP handles limited input

facilitiesfacilities The The WML elementsWML elements can be easily be implemented without can be easily be implemented without

much input required from the key-boardmuch input required from the key-board Deck & CardsDeck & Cards model requires minimal navigation between model requires minimal navigation between

pagespages Soft buttonsSoft buttons or user-definable keys are also supported by WML or user-definable keys are also supported by WML

WAP handles limited memory andWAP handles limited memory and CPU CPU Defining a Defining a light weight protocol stacklight weight protocol stack Limited functionality provided by Limited functionality provided by WML & WMLScriptWML & WMLScript Binary encodingBinary encoding of WML & WMLScript of WML & WMLScript

Some WAP applicationsSome WAP applications

Location-based Location-based servicesservices Real-time traffic reportingReal-time traffic reporting Event/restaurant Event/restaurant

recommendationrecommendation Highly customized adsHighly customized ads Instant messaging-type Instant messaging-type ““buddybuddy””

locationlocation

Enterprise solutions Enterprise solutions Email accessEmail access Database accessDatabase access A A ““global intranetglobal intranet”” Information updates Information updates ““pushedpushed”” to to

WAPWAP devices devices

Financial services– Banking– Bill-paying– Stock trading– Funds transfers

Travel services– Schedules and rescheduling– Reservations