Lbs Interoperability for Commercial Aspects

Abstract

Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies are expanding their traditional applications to embrace a stream of consumer-focused, location-based applications. Through an integration with handheld devices capable of wireless communication and mobile computing, a wide range "Location-Based Services" (LBS) may be offered to mobile users. A location-based service is able to provide targeted spatial information to mobile workers and consumers depending upon their location. These include utility location information, personal or asset tracking, concierge and routeguidance information, is possible because of LBS. The technologies and

applications of LBS will play an ever increasingly important role in the

modern, mobile, always-connected society.

LBS aims to provide specific, targeted information to users based on each specific user's location at any time. The security and safety are also important considerations for a "mobile society". The second type of application is concierge services where location-specific information on something nearby is sought. The requested information may be related to points-of-interest such as hospitals, restaurants, cinemas, car parks, ATMs, and so on. Such a service may provide information about the point-of-interest, or route-guidance to find it. There are also many examples of applications in typical work practices which might not be viewed as a form of commercial aspects, but which nevertheless benefit from using procedures that have a "spatial component", useful for Mbusiness purpose. A mobile device can be used to query a GIS database that

would permit the isolation of the customer requirements at the appropriate

location. In essence, LBS can only be provided through the integration of

wireless communications and computing technologies, with 'spatial elements'

such as positioning technologies and spatial data sets. These components form

a network using wireless communication standards to transfer service requests

and information between a mobile user and a service (or server) facility. The

location-based service facility is able to perform spatial functions based on the user's location, generally with the aid of a Geographical Information System.