Journal of Computer ScienceS Its Application, June 2[][]8, Vol. IS, No. I
Development of a Mobile Airline Reservation System
Oyelade 0. J. , Fatumo SA , Azeta A.A. and Ayo CK.
Department of Computer and Information Sciences,
College o.lScience and Technology,
Covenant University. P.M.B. 1023 Ota, Nigeria•
ola2000faith@yahoo. co. uk, fatumo @yahoo.co. uk, azeta_ ambrose@yahoo. com. ckayome@yahoo. com
ABSTRACT
Current~v,
many people and companies are embracing the mobile air line
reservation system. Reservation systems had been implemented in many parts of the world
for decades, initially from manual to computerized reservation system. Mobile, airline, bus
ticketing and automated reservation systems are effectively increasing in the market. As a
result of the fierce competition in the airline sector, organizations within this sector are in
the process of developing systems that will improve their services to customers.
Consequently, an automated seat reservation system has continued to be an open area of
research.
The objective of this paper is to develop a mobile airline seat reservation system
that will assist the public in gaining an easier and faster way for seat reservation and
providing them with more options to book a ticketfor traveling on real time.
The system was developed using the Wireless Markup Language (WML) asfrontend, MySQL 4.0 database management system as back-end and PHP (Hypertext
Preprocessor) as the server-side scripting language.
The developed system will assist the airline customers and operators in providing
cost-effective system that will make possible bookings and seat reservation on real-time
using a mobile phone, irrespective of location of a user.
Keywords: WML, WAP , Mobile Internet, Airline Reservation, Mobile phone.
1.0
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
rrom all levels ofthe business industry the
opportunity to access an untapped field
The internet has really changed the
that is still in its infancy. WAP (Wireless
way transactions take place and has being
Application Protocol) is a protocol for
able to remove the barrier of time and
accessing information and services rrom
location. WA<P provides a markup and a
wireless devices. WAP is defined and
protocol that opens the possibility of the
coordinated
wireless environment and gives players
consortium of industry players who have
by the
WAP
Forum, a
59
interest in information and services to
over
Internet
through
components: the W AP browser, the W AP
particularly
mobile
gateway and a server on the Internet. The
phones. The objective is to define a
mobile device connect to the Internet
standard application framework that will
through the W AP gateway. This W AP
be universal, and will allow seamless
gateway translates all the protocols used
interoperability of all of the components
in WAP to the protocols used on the
required for mobile access to network
Internet.
customers
mobile
the
W AP architecture. It is made up of three
devices,
applications. Figure 1 shows the basic
WAP browser
vvvw.; server
WAP gateway
Figure 1: WAP architecture
Source:(Singe l'ee et a 12005)
Most ofthe protocols in use today make a
powerful
set of assumptions about the environment,
Computer), and is almost certainly of
such as the type of network that will be
a different architecture.
available (particularly from the point of
•
as
a
PC
(Personal
Memory and storage -The memory
view of bandwidth and reliability), the
and storage unit of a mobile phone is a
types of devices that will be accessing the
lot more constrained than on a PC,
services, and the types of services that
because
handset
manufacturers are
These
cost-sensitive, and thus reluctant to
assumptions do not necessarily ho ld true
add any additional components unless
in the wireless world such as use of
it
mobile phone. There are a number of
mobi le
characteristics applicable to a mobile:
persistent storage oftheir own.
will
•
•
be
available
Form Factor -
for
access.
a mobile device
•
is really
necessary. Also
devices
Battery -
do
not
some
have
a
Mobile devices are battery
needs to be small enough to move
powered, and the need to have the
around and ideally to be able to fit in
device available for long periods of
the palm of the hand or in a shirt
time means that the processing CPU
pocket.
cannot make significant demands on
CPU (Central Processing Unit) - In a
the battery.
mobile device, the CPU is not as
60
•
Display- This is typically limited in
the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
size and resolution, and often cannot
(Webopedia, 2006).
The W AP Specification comple-
cope with color.
•
Input- Mobile devices typically do
ments existing wireless standards. For
not have keyboards and ifthey do they
example, it does not specify how data
are limited in size. Therefore, input is
should
more challenging than on a typical PC
interface; instead, it is intended to sit on
(Howell, 2000).
top of existing bearer channel standards so
be
transmitted
over
the
air
that any bearer standards can be used with
1.1
Wireless Networks versus Fixed
Wireless Networks
the
W AP
protocols
to
implement
complete product solutions. It is also
A wireless network is considerably
different from a fixed-wired
network.
independent
of any
particu tar device,
instead, it specifies the bare minimum
Reliability
profiles
are
considerably
functionality a device must have, and it
different, particularly where users move in
has been designed to accommodate any
and out of coverage areas, disappear into
functionality above that minimum. The
tunnels, and so on . Latency may also be
WAP programming model is similar to
an
issue
111
wireless
networks.
An
the World Wide Web (WWW) program-
additional factor is that there are a number
ming model.
of mobile network standards in place
across
the
world,
and
they
do
not
interoperate seamlessly. Some countries
even
have
incompatible
standards
in
different regions.
1.3
Wireless Markup Language
(WML)
WML is a generalized markup
language that is optimized for limited
The Wireless Application Protocol
capability devices and networks. WML
ts designed to work with most wireless
documents are an XML document type. It
networks such as GSM (900, I ,800, and
has also borrowed from Hand-held Device
I ,900),
European
Digital
Cordless
Communication (DECT), Time Division
Multiple
Access
Communication
Division
Personal
Services (PCS), Code
MuJtiple
Access
Cellular
(COMA) ,
Data
Language
(Phone.com's
2.0
(HDML
proprietary
language) and HTML. WML
language
that
provides
a
2.0)
markup
IS
a meta-
format
for
describing structured data (Musiano &
(CSD) ,
Kennedy, 2000). WML is designed for
Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) and
specifying user interface behavior and
Circuit
Switch
(TDMA),
Markup
61
displaying content on wireless devices
such as phones,
pagers and
personal
digital assistant (PDAs). WML and PHP
Templates can be used to specify a set of
characteristics that apply to all cards in the
deck.
can be combined as a development tool
for mobile client application while PHP
1.4
Benefits ofWAP/WML
The following are some of the
perform the server-side scripting such as
database
queries.
With
server-side
scripting, dynamic page content can be
generated,
forms
data
collected
benefits of W AP/WML:
•
Wireless
network
churn, cut costs, and increase the
subscriber base both by improving
WML is based on a deck of cards
111
For
operators, W AP promises to decrease
and
cookies handled.
metaphor,
Operators:
which
a
document
analogous to a deck, and
a card
existing services, such as interfaces to
IS
voice-mail and prepaid systems, and
1s
facilitating an unlimited range of new
approximately analogous to an individual
value-added services and applications,
screen or unit of display. The unit of
such
transmission between the gateway and the
management and
billing inquires. New applications can
mobile device is the deck, and the unit of
be
user interaction is a card within the deck.
introduced
without
Rather than focusing on the details of the
the
quickly
need
and
for
easily
additional
infrastructure or modifications to the
rendering of User Interface (Ul) elements,
phone. This will allow operators to
or of how the user should interact with the
browser, WML focuses on the semantic
meaning of the element. Separating the
rendering from the meaning allows the
differentiate
themselves
from
competitors
with
customized
information
serv1ces.
new,
WAP
their
is
an
interoperable fi·amework, enabling the
actual rendering and implementation on
provision
the device to be adapted to the capabilities
of
end-to-end
turnkey
solutions that will create a lasting
ofthe device.
consumer
of features including text and images, the
presentation hints can be included with
text and images, but it is ultimately up to
the browser how it renders the content.
loyalty,
build
and
increase
revenues.
ability to interact with the user, navigation
Layout and
advantage,
competitive
WML elements support a number
capabilities and variables.
as account
•
Content Providers:
applications are
Some
written
111
mobile
WML,
which is a subset of extensible markup
language
(XML).
WAP
enables
62
content and application developers to
1.5
grasp the tag-based WML that pave
the way for services to be written and
M-commerce (mobile commerce)
deployed within an operator's network
is the buying and selling of goods and
quickly and easily. As WAP is a
services
global
and
standard,
interoperable
content
through
wireless
handheld
open
devices . such as cellular telephone and
have
personal digital assistants (PDAs). M-
providers
immediate access to
a wealth
of
commerce
a
IS
next-generation
e-
potential customers who seek such
commerce and it enables users to access
applications to enhance the service
the Internet without needing to find a
offerings given to their own existing
place to plug in . Advances in Internet and
and potential subscriber base. Mobile
network
technology
consumers
growmg
number
receive
are
becoming
increased
value-added
•
Mobile Commerce (MCommerce)
keen
functionality
from
their
to
and
mobile
and
the
rapidly
of mobile
personal
devices result in the fast growth of eCommerce.
The
development
and
devices, and W AP opens the door to
adoption of mobile technologies have
the untapped market.
made new services and related commerce
End Users: End users of W AP benefit
more and more avai !able. Some of the
from easy, secure access to relevant
factors
Internet information and services such
development
as unified messaging, banking and
development of the Internet and related
entertainment through their
technologies.
mobile
that
contributed
are
Electronic
devices. Intranet information such as
the
to
this
tremendous
commerce
IS
the
be
electronic exchange (delivery or transact-
accessed via W AP technology. Users
tion) of information, goods, services, and
corporate
are
able
databases
to
can
receive
and
also
request
infiJrmation in a controlled , fast and
low-cost
environment,
a
fact
that
payments over telecommunications networks.
E-commerce
establishing
and
activities
include
maintaining
online
renders W AP services more attractive
relationships between an organization and
to consumers who demand more value
its suppliers, dealers, customers, strategic
and functionality from their mobile
partners,
terminals.
related to (or in support of) traditional
regulators,
and
other agents
delivery channels. Other activities include
(Tarasewich et a! 2002): product searches
63
and comparisons by consumers; product
and discussions and section 5 contains the
information presentation and promotion
concluding remarks.
by
manufacturers
and
retailers;
support;
customer
purchase
communication
between
post-
seller
2.0
and
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this paper
IS
to
shippers or banks; and other activities that
develop a . mobile airline seat reservation
are not directly related to the transaction
system thal will assist the public
itself.
gaining an easier and faster way for seat
in
Mobile devices will become the
reservation and providing customers with
basic business enabler for e-commerce
more options to book an airline ticket on
(Marra
A.
2000).
The
concept of commerce
IS
fundamental
real time.
to exchange
goods and services in return for payment
3.0
SYSTEMS DESIGN AND
IMPLEMENTATION
or in the case of a barter economy in
The system was developed using
return for other goods or services. This
concept obviously only works
in the
interest of both parties if basic security
requirements such as the reliability of a
transaction can be guaranteed. In the nonmobile IT world, most of the involved
challenges have already been addressed
and at least conceptually so lved. The
different characteristics of non-mobile Ecommerce and M-commerce and their
unique
usage
patterns
entail
various
additional security threats mainly caused
by the fact of mobility itself (Edgar,
2001).
fo !lows.
Sect ion
2
discusses
the
objectives ofthe research. Systems design
(
and
front-end,
MySQL
4.0
database
management system as back-end and PHP
(Hypertext Preprocessor) as the serverside
scripting
language
to
enable
communication between the front-end and
back-end.
Modular programming tech-
nique was applied during the program
writing stage. The sequence diagram for
requesting for flight information and the
class diagram for the system are described
in Figure 2 and Figure 3 respectively.
The testing ofthe system was done
The rest of the paper is organized
as
the Wireless Markup Language (WML) as
implementations are contained
in
section 3. Section 4 enumerates the result
usmg the Openwave SDK V7 simulator
which serves as a means to deploy the
software on a Personal Computer in the
absence of the WAP micro browser and
gateway.
64
\ill P.P
Mobile Device
Gateway
WebServer
r-
Requestfli ght1 nfo() ,-:... Connect througll
\/1/.AP
__:_
__:_
__:_
.Autr1ent1ca te()
,-:...
i\ctivate Apache
Execu te Query()
Retneve1 nfo()
W ML cont ent
Response 1nfo
Send through
cllannel
'-:---:-
D1splayfl1 ght1 nfo()
--:-
--:-
'-:-~
Fi gure 2: Sequence Diagram for requesting flight information
The System Functions
operations. Figure 4 contains a welcome
and authentication page ofthe system.
Described below are some of the
functionalities ofthe application presented
in card form.
Registration Card
The
registration
card
enables
registration of new users. It consists of
Welcome Card
This card can be likened to the
fields such as surname, other names, age,
nationality,
address,
username
and
home-page in a web application. It is the
password. The username and password at
first card the user interacts with. It also
this point has to be distinct and not
gives the user the option of either logging
already used.
in, if the user is already an existing user,
or registering, if the user is new to the
system.
Flight Enquiry Card
This card enables the user to input
his/her take off point of location such as
Access Authentication
source airport and destin at ion airport, so
This card requests for the details
'
of the already existing user, that is, the
that it is checked up in the database if it
user's username and password to enable
Figure 5.
the user access to the system and perform
exists. The enquiry card is contained in
65
Passenger
Surname: String
Other_names: String
Age: int
Sex: String
Address: String
Nationality: String
Reservation
0.*
passenge r
res
I
-getSurname()
-getOther_names()
-getAge()
-getAddress()
-getNationality()
-getSex()
Surname: String
Other_ names: String
Ticket - ld: String
Teller_Num: String
Bank: String
+getS urname()
+getOther_names()
-getTicket_ Id()
-getTeller_ Num()
-getBank()
__________o
Flight
Takeoff_ Airport: String
Destination_ Airport: String
Takeoff Time: time
Flight_Num: int
Takeoff Date: Date
Flight_Cost: int
Available seat: int
Type_of_flight: String
-getTakeoff_Airport ()
-getDesti nation_ Airport ()
-getTakeoff_Time()
-getFiight_N um ()
-getTakeoff_ Date()
-getFI ight_ Cost ()
-getAvailable_seat 0
-getType_of_ flight ()
Figure 3: Class diagram of Mobile Airline system
66
~ Generk Device- .
~ Generk Devke File
Edit
\liew
Settings
Help
File
Edit
ViE: 1N
Settings
Help
V1.0 Flight
Reservation
System
· Easier.'!/
: Foil ow t11e Linl<.s
Figure 4: Welcome and authentication page
~ Gene-ri<: Oevif::~e Fill.!
Edit
V!t·v·.•
Settin9s.
Help
O·?Stln.:-ttJon
~' .Ld·J·..:.•~
Figure 5: Flight Enquiry Card
Server-side Script
then presented with the option to make a
This card outputs the list of all flights
reservation based on this list. The flight
going in the route selected by the user
reservation information card is contained
with details such as flight time, flight date,
in Figure 6.
flight cost, and available seats. The user is
67
~Generic Device - . . .
Help
Figure 6:
Flight reservation Information Card
Resenration Card
which can be activated at the different
This card collects details of the user
menu as the user navigates through the
making
details
system just like going from one web page
include Surname, other names, Flight
to the other, or from one site to the other.
number, teller number, and bank paid to.
This modular approach made the program
a
reservation.
These
more interesting and it enhances easy
4.0
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
modification and debugging.
The system was designed such that
The restrictions of mobile devices
any level of user can easily use it. To start
such as size of the display screen are
and run the application, the user need to
major issue in user interface design for
type the URL that refers to the index or
mobile phones. The screen display is
home page. If the URL is properly typed ,
made as brief as possible for proper
a connection to the server is established
paging. Scrolling is also possible to enable
and the welcome screen is displayed . The
user move the displayed information up or
user can easily navigate back or front
down on the screen, one line at a time.
without previous knowledge of the mode
Each screen carries sufficient instructions
of operation of the application . The
as to what operation is being performed at
application is user friendly. The modular
any time the user selects a function. Users
approach of programming which is a
can edit a wrongly typed text and can also
(
prominent feature of the modern system
modify any default value set by the
of programming
application.
was
applied.
Each
module was designed as a deck of cards,
68
5.0
CONCLUSION
gateway
In this study, the authors have
application
IS
required to fully deploy the
on
a
web
server.
The
developed a mobile airline seat reser-
developed system will assist the airline
vation system using the Wireless Markup
customers and operators in providing cost-
Language (WML) as front-end, MySQL
effective system that will make possible
4.0 database management system as back-
bookings and seat reservation on real-
end and PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) as
time, irrespective of location of a user
the scripting.
using a mobile phone.
The prototype application has been
tested locally (on a localhost computer)
using a mobile device emulator. A WAP
6.0
I)
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