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With the aim of maximizing the potential of geo-information content and supporting wireless telecom operators in generating service revenues, GISDATA has developed a reliable geo-information platform. GISDATA Location Based Services Engine (LBSE) is an open, standards-based and modular system which facilitates various spatially aware applications and services with short time-to-market even in the absence of in-depth geoinformation knowledge. The Location Based Services Engine (LBSE) offers OpenLS based middleware and front-end software components for the deployment of various value added services such as Fleet Management, Information Services, Yellow Pages, Tracking, Mobile Voting, Proximity Games and 3rd party applications.
location.solutions@gisdata.com
Gisdata's Approach to Value Added Services
There are several reasons why mobile operators decide to introduce value added services to their offering portfolio. These reasons include keeping ahead of competition, in some cases catching up with competition, taking a technical challenge and, last but not least, taking a challenge to market and sell these new services. Marketing and sales efforts should be a focus when developing new mobile services -including location based services. However, the level of detail when planning a new system often depends on the reasons for introducing this new system. The dynamic context of today’s modern life of our clients is important for deployment of most of the location based services, which makes it of outmost importance to segment and thoroughly understand market opportunities, potential clients and their expectations.
If a client finds herself in a long traffic jam, would she be interested to utilize localized traffic information in real time in order to avoid being trapped in the traffic jam and long waiting? In a situation where a mobile client or someone close to him is in trouble, how likely is it that the person will be willing to use the service of geographic positioning? In case a client is in a situation where he urgently needs cash to do a purchase, how important would it be to him to know the location of the closest ATM machine?
These are the questions that determine the form of mobile location services, and LBS, as technology, just enables the deployment of such services. Everything a person does, is done somewhere in space and we could say that every mobile service could be integrated with a geographic location and could, in fact, be a location service. Mobile industry will continue with efforts to increase ARPU from mobile services. As the 2.5G and 3G networks roll-out, operators are forced to open the «heavy doors» that are hidding complex telecomunication's infrastructure, which is so complex that it doesn't allow faster integration of information and communication technology (ICT). In these circumstances, operators also have the challenge of client's narrow privacy perception, where the clients understand the fact that their voice is not completely protected, but do not understand how could someone know their exact location. Dynamic modern life brings its own rules and those who do not accept these rules are taking a risk of getting into conflict with the evolution that no one could stop.
To manage the challenges of deploying mobile location services, Gisdata has designed a complete consulting and technological solution that includes analysis and segmentation of market, development of prototype services, test work, design of a complete solution, system maintenance and upgrade, as well as deployment of a complete solution that has a time-to-market of less than 30 days. Also, our focus is strategic cooperation with operators in making a long term effort to develop mobile location services based on a flexible business model which is best suited for each specific market.
As a traditional GIS company with an extensive experience in developing applications for different markets of geographic information systems, we look at the development of mobile locations services as an integral part of a complete geoinformation platform for wireless telecomunication's industry. This platform brings geoinformatics into a large number of business processes within the scope of network planning and optimization, network build-up and maintenance, marketing and sales, contact centers and other.
LBSE.middleware (OpenLS compliant)
The core of GISDATA LBSE is comprised of three middleware units: LBSEmap, LBSEloc and LBSEnet.
LBSE.map is an mapping rendering service which generates dynamic maps in GIF, JPEG, PNG or WBMP formats. Its API supports most common mapping operations such as zooming and panning. The LBSEmap interface hides the complex mathematical aspect of geodetic coordinates and projection systems from the application developer. This architecture allows service developers to focus on service functionality. Based on an ESRI ArcIMS and ArcSDE technology, LBSEmap supports advanced spatial queries, routing and geocoding.
LBSE.loc is a Mobile Location Protocol (MLP) compliant gateway to positioning infrastructure deployed within the core telecom network. LBSE.loc integrates positioning methods (Cell ID, E-OTD, A-GPS, GPS) used in GSM/GPRS/UMTS networks, and provides the application developer geographic location of the mobile user, positional accuracy and additional information such as quality-of-service (QoS).
LBSE.net is a set of interfaces used for integration with billing, profiling and provisioning systems. In addition, LBSE.net provides mobile device profile information, which can be used by both middleware services and front-end applications in order to fully utilize capabilities of each specific mobile terminal. |
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LBSE.services
LBSE.fleet is the Fleet Management Service Platform and application that provides Fleet Manager Service to mobile subscribers customers. This service enables subscribers tracking of their resources and packages using existing handsets. Tracking as well as management, reporting and alerting functions are performed via an easy interface provided by the application. There are two different interfaces. Customer Support interface can be approached only by service provider and it is used for administration and maintenance purposes (customer support). The other one provides clients the usage of the Fleet Manager Service.
LBSE.track is a ready-made corporate vehicles management application. It not only tracks vehicles in use by GPS location, but allows for many other functions, such as vehicle reservation requests management, vehicle usage approval and allocation, alarms and last known location management, vehicle history management, vehicle statistics etc., providing value for optimal corporate assets management and control.
LBSE.E112 is the emergency services solution based on leading and robust GIS server technology from GISDATA and ESRI. The LBSE.E112 is suitable for integration of emergency services authority procedures and fixed and wireless telecom operator's infrastructure in order to meet E112 regulations. The LBSE.E112 is open and standards based GIS solution. |
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LBSE.info allows users to retrieve information on nearest points of interest (POI) based on their current geographic position. This application is using telco’s positioning system and LBSEloc location middleware. LBSE.info mobile location service is developed as a pull service where the first request to the LBSE.info devoted number is initiated by the user who wants information on specific POI (cinema, drugstore, ATM, etc.). Based on a specific market structure and demand, the service can be deployed as a push service. Geoinformation content is delivered to users through various delivery channels such as Web, WAP, MMS, SMS and Voice via IVR or Contact Center agents.
LBSE.hunt is location dependant mobile entertainment application. It is developed to add geographic perspective to mobile gaming. It is an application which enables operators to deploy various SMS/MMS based entertainment games such as treasure hunting and battleship with very short time to market. LBSE.hunt games are usually applied seasonally by mobile operators. The application challenges users to find a target, which changes geographic location periodically. Users receive hints based on their current location and the most successful hunters are rewarded by the mobile operator on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. |
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LBSE.open, based on OpenLS industry standard, is open to third party developers and is therefore also suitable for the wireless operators own staff to further develop applications of their choosing i.e. location-dependent delivery of weather reports and weather forecasts as SMS or MMS. The LBSE platform is compliant with industry standards and it enables the integration of third party mobile services.
Architecture
The LBSE is based on 3-tier architecture consisting of data layer, LBSE middleware layer and LBSE services layer. The data layer stores geographic and attribute data in RDBMS running ESRI Geodatabase and ArcSDE. Data model is designed according to ESRI Geodatabase concept which allows maintaining relationships between different layers. The Geodatabase stores vector, raster and attribute data. The LBSE middleware layer consists of Mapping services, Web services, Interfaces to the Services layer and to the Customer Service, Provisioning Positioning platform (either GMLC or LES), Billing system (CDR), Legal interception solution and Authentication and Profiling. The Services layer is an application layer which deals with application logic for each particular service that is going to be exposed to the public. The services layer consists of following applications: Fleet Manager, Role Playing Game, Frined Finder, Street Guide, Mobile Voting and 3rd party applications and services interface.
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