Using Object-Relational Database Systems and XML in the Context of Mobile Environments

In this paper, we present an architecture for presentation, access and exchange of information in a mobile computing environment. In the project MOVI, a new approach is developed which enables applications on mobile computers for exchange and visualization of multimedia objects with applications on stationary database servers via the Object Bus. We focus our attention on new strategies for the adaptation and integration of database techniques regarding the management of multimedia data types at the particular conditions of mobile infrastructures. We believe that object-relational database systems e.g. Informix and Oracle8i are ideal repositories on the stationary server side for next generation multimedia applications, especially in inter-networked LAN or WAN environments. Moreover, our approach illustrates the use and benefits of XML technology as a generic gateway to any mobile device. The basic idea of this paper is the integration of object-relational database technology and XML techniques in a Mobility Information Center (MIC) as a framework for mobile environments. The major aim is to optimize the mobile data exchange and presentation by using of media specific queries, data preprocessing and reduction methods within the database system as well as XML/XSL based data transformation and presentation on mobile end systems. All these methods are influenced by contexts like local resources, available communication channels, and user preferences.