A Modular Data Link Layer (M-DALL) for NEXT GEN Mobile Terminals enabling wireless aware applications: A platform independent software design

Present 3G Mobile Devices are often supports multiple communication technologies. If software developers want to control the configuration or monitor the characteristics of active Radio Access Technologies (RATs), their mobile applications will have to use different programming interfaces for each technology on various supported platform. We propose Modular Data Link Layer M-DALL for a NEXT GEN Mobile Terminal to abstract common metrics and introduce a single interface for retrieving radio link layer information. M-DALL offers a flexible query interface and a powerful notification mechanism to application layer that enable applications to become link-aware. The M-DALL also compromises common data functionality that is extended through specific parts of a dedicated RATs like GPRS, UMTS, CDMA2K and WLAN that could serve as a basis for existing and future Protocol stack development through Reusable software components. The M-DALL also provides enhanced Services like handover, data storage and a method of power consumption. The evaluation of these enhanced services by means of analysis, simulations and prototyping is a topic of ongoing and future work. Additionally, special attention was paid to keep the M-DALL extendible for emerging networking technologies.