A Proposed System for Push Messaging on Android

Abstract— There is a remarkable growing interest in utilizing mobile communications to enhance the interactions between different partners in educational institutions, particularly in schools. However, how communicating with parents via applications while aren't actively running is quite a challenging demand. On the other hand, the addressed success of the Android supporting features provided a good candidate to support applications with real time information. Moreover the Android platforms supports efficiently customizable notifications, which allow applications based on Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) to specify the pushed events. In this paper, we look at different push messaging alternatives available for Android. Push messaging provides an important aspect of server to device communication, and we specifically focus on the integration of cloud computing with mobile devices through the use of push-based technologies. The paper presents a proposed notification system; ToParent, that actively provide alerts and messaging between parents and schools. Also, we investigate the performance of two relevant push technologies for the Android devices .The proposed system was implemented using Eclipse. The system has been tested and validated. Evaluation have proven that the proposed ToParent enabled better efficiency, and good overall satisfaction of both parties; parents and school administrations.

Every Cloud Has a Push Data Lining: Incorporating Cloud Services in a Context-Aware Application

We investigated context-awareness by utilising multiple sources of context in a mobile device setting. In our experiment we developed a system consisting of a mobile client, running on the Android platform, integrated with a cloud-based service. These components were integrated using push messaging technology. One of the key features was the automatic adaptation of smartphones in accordance with implicit user needs. The novelty of our approach consists in the use of multiple sources of context input to the system, which included the use of calendar data and web based user configuration tool, as well as that of an external, cloud-based, configuration file storing user interface preferences which, pushed at log-on time irrespective of access device, frees the user from having to manually configure its interface. The system was evaluated via two rounds of user evaluations (n= 50 users), the feedback of which was generally positive and demonstrated the viability of using cloud-based services to provide an enhanced context-aware user experience.

SMS for disease control in developing countries: a systematic review of mobile health applications

Mobile phones provide a low cost method of addressing certain health system needs in developing countries. We examined SMS-supported interventions for prevention, surveillance, management and treatment compliance of communicable and non-communicable diseases in developing countries. We searched both peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting the use of SMS messages for disease prevention, surveillance, self-management and compliance in developing countries. A total of 98 applications fulfilled the inclusion criteria (33 prevention, 19 surveillance, 29 disease management and 17 patient compliance applications). In 31 projects, the SMS applications were evaluated. The majority of applications focused on HIV/AIDS and were located in India, South Africa and Kenya. Most used bulk (push) messaging. In general, they were well accepted by the population. The review provides further evidence that mobile phones are an appropriate and promising tool for disease control interventions in developing countries.