Glossary

adapter

A dynamically loaded Java class that acquires content from an external source, such as a Web site or a database, and converts the content into Mobile XML. Pre-built adapters include the Web Integration adapter, SQL adapter, and Strip adapter.

Adapter Result format

A general, user interface-independent content format. Content in Adapter Result format requires conversion to Simple Result format before it can be converted to the final target format.

antenna

Each tag has at least one antenna. On the other side of the communication link, the reader must also have an antenna. Some readers can drive multiple antennae at the same time. Depending on the protocol, frequency and application, these antennae vary from thin strips of metal laid across a surface, to a portal doorway antenna that is meters tall

Application

A core object used in a Wireless server to represent a unit of information requested by, and delivered to, a Wireless client. An end user typically sees an application as a menu item on a device or as a link on a Web page.

Application Link

A pointer to a master application. When an application link is placed in a service tree, the corresponding service becomes available to the owner or owners of the service tree.

bookmark

A link from a service to an external, device-compatible data source that does not require Wireless processing.

Customization Portal

A Web-based interface (also referred to as the Wireless Customization Portal) that end users access to select services and configure their device portal. Users access the Customization Portal from their desktop computers.

chip

A silicon chip, with embedded memory, is used in a tag. The chip implements the wireless protocol and access functions to its embedded memory. Note that in active tags, this is not a single chip but an entire board.

daemon

A background process that performs a specified operation in response to certain events or at specified times.

device

An object that describes either a physical device, such as a cellular phone, or an application, such as email. There is a default device transformer for each device. For the Oracle Sensor Edge Server, a device is an end point of a sensor-based architecture, such as an RFID reader, a dry contact, a laser diode, carousel, or a robotic picker.

device transformer

A transformer that converts content from Simple Result format into the target format.

DOM Interface

Document Object Model. The interface that allows programs and scripts to access and transform processed XML documents.

DTD

Document Type Definition. A file in an XML document that defines how the application presenting the document should interpret the XML document.

end user

A person who accesses a Wireless service from a client device.

HDML

Handheld Device Markup Language. A reduced version of HTML designed to enable wireless pagers, cellular phones, and other handheld devices to access Web page content.

IMAP

Interactive Mail Access Protocol. A hierarchical mail storage and retrieval structure.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language. The document format that defines the page layout, fonts, and graphic elements, as well as the hypertext links to other documents on the Web.

JNDI

Java Naming and Directory Interface. A set of APIs that provide directory and naming functionality to Java applications.

JSP

JavaServer Pages. A technology based on Java servlets which separates the functions of Web page layout and content generation. JavaServer Pages technology enables the creation of server-generated Web pages incorporating dynamic content.

LDAP

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol. Protocols for accessing directories. The LDAP protocols support TCP/IP.

master application

The core implementation of aWirelesse application. The master application invokes a specific adapter, and identifies the transformer used to convert content for the target device.

MIME

Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. A mail type that defines the message structure for different 8-bit character sets and multi-part messages.

Mobile Portal

The interface where mobile device users access their Wireless applications.

Oracle Application Server Wireless XML

A set of DTDs and XML document conventions used by the Wireless to define content and internal objects.

Oracle Sensor Edge Server

The server that resides between all of the readers and the application middle tier. It is responsible for interfacing with all of the readers and sending normalized data back to the application server.

PremiumSMS Billing Model

The Async Listener enables users of SMS-enabled phones to access content from the Internet. To request such an application, a mobile user sends a message containing SMS keywords describing the application to an Async account using a short address (a number) known as the Large Account. The SMS keywords identify the application (for example, ST for stock quote applications.) The message goes through the network of a PremiumSMS operator to retrieve the content supplied by the Content Provider, whose system listens for the SMS message sent to the Large Account. The Content Provider processes the message and returns the requested information as a message to the user, who is charged a premium on top of the standard SMS transport rate for mobile device-issued requests. The content provider and PremiumSMS operator (or carrier) both share this premium.

provisioning adapter

The adapter used to create, modify, and delete user objects in the Wireless repository.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

RFID is the use of small transponders with embedded Electronic Serial Numbers (ESNs) or memory, which transmit identifiers across one or more frequencies.

reader

A reader reads from, and writes to, the tags to which it is connected. Readers usually have serial interfaces used to communicate with a host computer. There is no widely-accepted standard for this protocol. The process of retrieving data stored on an RFID tag by sending radio waves to the tag and then converting the waves the tag sends back into data is known as a read.

reader field

The area of coverage for a reader. If tags are outside of a reader field, then they cananot receive radio waves and cannot be read.

Real Time Location System (RTLS)

A technology that uses radio-frequency to produce real-time location information for tagged items.

repository

An Oracle database which stores all of the Wireless objects, such as users, groups, adapters, and applications.

request

A query to initiate a desired Wireless service. Requests are submitted on behalf of end-users to the Wireless server.

request manager

The Wireless component that processes requests for services. The request manager authenticates the user, submits the request to the Wireless core, and retrieves the device type and any presentation settings. The request manager also forwards converted content from the transformer to the user.

request object

An XML document representing a request for service.

result transformer

A transformer that converts content from Adapter Result format into Simple Result format.

ReverseCharge

ReverseCharge is a billing model which charges the service premium to the mobile subscriber on the result SMS message, rather than on the service request itself. Mobile users, requesting applications through multiple channels, such as IVR (interactive voice response) or the Web, receive the service result as an SMS message. For example, when a user wants to access an article on the Web, the user must first complete and submit a web form requesting his SMS address before receiving an SMS message containing the authorization code needed to access the article. In this case, the user is charged a transport fee and a service premium for the SMS result message conveying the authorization code.

Usually with SMS, the sender of an SMS message is charged. With ReverseCharge, however, the party receiving the message is charged a transport fee and a service premium. The amount of the service premium depends upon which service the mobile user requests; each service has its own associated tariff class. To ensure the correct billing information, the application provider supplies the ReverseCharge operator with the Large Account and the tariff class of the service upon generating the service result SMS message.

RMI

Remote Method Invocation. A standard for creating and calling remote objects. RMI allows Java components stored in a network to be run remotely.

sample repository

The initial Wireless repository, which includes pre-built objects such as transformers, adapters, and logical devices.

Service Manager

The visual interface for creating and managing Wireless users, user groups, adapters, transformers, and services.

Simple Result format

A content format that contains abstract user interface elements such as text items, menus, forms, and tables.

source format

The original format of content retrieved from an external data source by a Wireless adapter. For example, the source format of Web page content is HTML.

Strip adapter

An adapter that retrieves and adapts Web content dynamically.

strip level

The class used by the strip adapter to process markup tags in source content.

SQL adapter

An adapter that retrieves and adapts content from any JDBC-enabled data source.

stylesheet

An XSLT (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) instance that implements content presentation for XML documents. Wireless transformers can be either XSLT stylesheets or Java programs.

tag

(Also known as an RFID tag. ) A single unit that contains a chip, one or more antennae, and a power source. If it is battery-driven or from a external source, the tag is an Active Tag. If the power source is inductive-based (which means that it relies on photoelectric effect to generate power from remotely generated radio waves), the tag is a Passive Tag. A tag containing data that cannot be changed is a read-only tag.

target format

The format required to deliver data to a specific type of client device.

Thin HTML

A minimal version of HTML implemented by a transformer in the starter Wireless repository. Thin HTML does not include support for frames, JavaScript, or other advanced features.

transformer

A Wireless object that converts content returned by the Wireless adapters. Result transformers convert Adapter Result documents into Simple Result documents. Device transformers convert Simple Result documents into the target format.

TTML

Tagged Text Mark-up Language. A lightweight version of HTML suitable for most PDAs.

user agent

An object that associates an end user with a device type.

user group

A Wireless object that represents a set of users that are grouped together based on common criteria such as interests, subscription level, or geographic location.

VoxML

A markup language that enables the use of voice to interface with applications.

WAP

Wireless Application Protocol. A wireless standard from Motorola, Ericsson, and Nokia for providing cellular phones with access to email and text-based Web pages. WAP uses Wireless Markup Language (WML).

Web Integration adapter

An adapter that retrieves and adapts Web content using WIDL files to map the source content to Wireless XML.

WIDL

Web Interface Definition Language. A meta-data language that defines interfaces to Web-based data and services. WIDL enables automatic and structured Web access by compatible applications.

WIDL file

A file written in Web Interface Definition Language that associates input and output parameters with the source content that you want to make available in a Wireless service.

WML

Wireless Markup Language. A markup language optimized for the delivery of content to wireless devices.

XML

eXtensible Markup Language. A flexible markup language that allows tags to be defined by the content developer. Tags for virtually any data item can be created and used in specific applications, allowing Web pages to function like database records.

XSLT

Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations. A language for transforming one XML DTD into another XML DTD.