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Introduction
The Communication Infrastructure
The SafeTRIP Middleware
The On-Board Unit (OBU)
Case Studies
Business Models for SafeTRIP Platform
General Description of the Middleware
The unique concept of SafeTRIP is about an On-Board Unit integrated with a smart middleware harmonizing the communication channels that have different interface and behaviour.
The SafeTRIP middleware makes applications independent from the communication infrastructure, in particular:
- it provides applications and services with an abstraction of the communications layer and core services;
- application developers will not deal with implementation details, but will make use of simple and standard interfaces;
- it provides a number of enabling services that works as mediators and are used by the end user services;
- it runs on both the on-board unit and a central segment.
Middleware modules include core functions, broadcasting functions, messaging and connection-oriented functions, real-time oriented functions.
Among core services: Centralization of positioning information, Authentication, authorization and accounting, Access to Floating Car Data, Simple and standard interface to be used by all OBU modules (networks and services).
Real-time services include transmission of content to many receivers with typical broadcasting approach and no need for return channel, reliable transfer of large quantity of data using one way communications over the forward link.
Non-real-time messaging services are used by applications that need to exchange messages with service centres with short messages on the return link. They include Store & Forward to optimize network use and are based on S-MIM ETSI protocol.
Connection-oriented functions include voice services (including establishment, termination, call routing, accounting), Internet access and vertical handover (seamless integration of alternative communication networks).
Figure 8: The role of Service Enabling Platform in SafeTRIP
The name of the middleware is Service Enabling Platform (SEP) for the modules running centrally and Service Enabling Layer (SEL) for the on-board middleware. However, in the SafeTRIP documentation, the SEP/SEL middleware is often referred to as Service Enabling Platform for simplicity. The Services Enabling Platform is thus software that allows the services to be independent of the type of the communication channel between the OBUs and the service centres.
The SEP connects to the Existing Service Providers (ESP) and the Value Added Service Providers (VASP), providing a virtual communication channel over S-band satellite or over Alternative Ground Networks (AGNs). AGNs are typically GPRS, UMTS or HSDPA or Wi-Fi.
In the OBU, the SEL works as a mediator between the Client Applications and the SafeTRIP network. The SEL exposes a set of standardized interfaces to the available services (VoIP, authentication, authorization, accounting, positioning, messaging, routing and more) to the applications running on the OBU. The SEL communicates with the SafeTRIP network via S-band or AGNs.
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SAFETRIP.eu is a project co-funded by the European Commission, DG Research
© Copyright 2012 SafeTRIP
