A framework for the creation of end user and enabling services on IMS

IMS ARCS is an industrial and academic cooperative program conducting research in the area of IMS technology with a view to creating a body of intellectual property for the use of project partners, and serving as a case study on how to develop IMS end user and enabling services. The project employs the OpenIMS testbed from Fraunhofer Fokus, as the basis for the development and execution of services, and has built upon the facilities available in the OpenIMS testbed, while attempting to add value to these through the development of enabling services. This paper describes a useful location aware service which can help a user maximise their use of public transport facilities in a city. The service is particularly focused on demonstrating how IMS technology can be used to help visually impaired users. IMS ARCS and its OpenIMS testbed are affiliated with the EU sponsored FP7 PanLab II project.