Building flexible mobile applications for next generationenterprises

摘要

In order to understand and gain practical insights into variousaspects of next-generation enterprises (NGEs), we are building a testbedfor flexible mobile applications. We started with a generic architectureand used it to build different applications in different domains. Ourtestbed consists of a multi-tiered architecture incorporating varioususer interfaces and access technologies, middleware components,enterprise integration systems, supply chain management and a host ofcurrently emerging technologies. The first application we have developedis an information application for the Olympic Games to providepersonalized information for mobile users through a variety of end-userdevices. The second experiment is a typical e-commerce online purchasingapplication that uses mobile agents (brokers) to buy products frommultiple suppliers based on user-specified criteria. The third exampledemonstrates a typical workflow scenario that may be needed in a highlycollaborative and reliable NGE environment. In this paper, we presentour preliminary experiences in building these applications. Based on ourexperience, we are pursuing further research and evaluation of varioustechnologies for flexibility, mobility, scalability and ease ofintegration