An architecture for location-based service with multiple information providers

Abstract

Location-based services (LBS) provide users with customized information or functionality by considering users' current geographical locations. In this paper, we present an LBS architecture for facilitating information provisioning from multiple providers based on users' locations. The architecture includes a central component called service router whose main task is to forward information requests from the users' mobile applications to target information providers. The architecture assumes that information is stored in content management systems (CMSs). The architecture requires that the CMSs provide the same service interface as one in the service router. This interface is to allow programmable access to the information. This architecture offers three main benefits: (i) natural fit to real-world situation, in which an area is administered by an authority, (ii) consistent presentation by allowing the mobile applications to restructure and reformat information from the providers, and (iii) scalability by delegating the routing tasks to a composition of service routers in a hierarchical architecture.