Open standards in location based services

Abstract
Location based services encompass broad areas of technology and the need for standards is evident for interoperability between technology components. Such components include Content & Applications, Gateways & Middleware, Network Equipment, Service Provider, End-user Devices. Seamless integration of these into a reliable Location based service requires Open standards for data exchange and application interfaces. Conventional methods of proprietary data and components have distinct disadvantages in terms of interoperability and integration and do not allow much flexibility in cost and scalability. With Open standards evolving in both GIS and Wireless technology area the Scope for viable Open standards in Location Based services have become feasible.

XML based data interchange has evolved as a clear choice and geographical data through XML has come a long way with GML3.0 standards. Challenges however exists in working together for providing interfaces to the various components and integrating as system where components can be conveniently introduced, modified or removed under an open standards framework. We discuss opportunities and threats in the path of developing such systems as we analyse the requirements of interoperability and the path to achieve it. Benefits of open location based systems are also discussed with context of consumers and service providers.

Introduction
Location based services are gaining prime importance in our increasingly mobile and highly IT enabled world. With Modern legislation and interest in utilising Geo-spatial information for providing practically useful information to users of Mobile services the scope and capability of informing, alerting and involving the user.

Location services are defined as applications that deliver location-based information where and when it is needed. Users can access these services via the desktop, Web browser, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), pager, or other device. Diverse applications include fleet tracking, emergency dispatch, sensor monitoring, and customer location for target marketing and advertising, roadside assistance, stolen vehicle recovery, navigation, directory services, and more.


OLS Architecture

The Kelsey Group predicts that the Location-based service (LBS) market is expected to exceed $11 billion in revenue with as many as $1b Internet-enabled handsets in use by the year 2005. Also the LBS industry has the following striking features, which makes it important to have an initiative for Open standards.
300 companies comprise the LBS business space
No definition of fundamental service architecture
No agreement on best of breed
No assurance offerings work together to form end-to-end solutions
Concepts of Location based services
Location based services are primarily composed of three major components
Mobile Computation Services (Communication and computations using mobile devices)
Location Enabling Services (User Location Providing)
Location Aware Services (IP based applications)


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