JAVA-based HTTP input channel for heterogeneous wireless networks

HTTP is a key application-level protocol in enabling Internet services. The trend of network convergence and mobile accessibility brings new challenges to the protocol. This paper describes the design and implementation of an architecture for Java-based HTTP input channel for multi-access wireless network. An HTTP input channel can adapt its behavior according to the changing network status in a context-aware fashion. The adaptation includes both selecting and dynamically switching the underlying connection used, as well as coping with disconnection situation. The adaptation is performed at channel level instead of device level, so that multiple connections in one user device can be utilized simultaneously. Experiments were performed in a GPRS-WLAN integrated environment to demonstrate the operational correctness of the architecture. Performance metrics were measured and analyzed.