One profile of our CityWalk software is targeted at devices running Java MIDP and supports content updates via mobile radio networks as well as a device specific software configurator with download area. Both version of CityWalk rely on our XML-based content infrastructure to represent and manage tourist related content.
Our activities are strongly embedded in our work towards new global satellite navigation systems (Galileo, GPS). Presently, mobile phones with assisted GPS are emerging and are being integrated in the navigation component of our CityWalk application.
Core Technologies
From the outset of our work in Heywow, we have placed a strong focus towards employing local short range radio systems such as Bluetooth and Wireless LAN to provide the user with local information, navigation and high data rate network access. Naturally, Heywow supports handoff between these short range radio systems and wider range mobile radio systems such as GPRS and UMTS. We have developed a Linux based Local Service Point (LSP) which allows, amongst others, Bluetooth based access to locally stored websites and can be installed at places where people will often require such services, such as museums, in and around historic buildings, in cafes and restaurants, public administrations, as well as countless others.
A second core technology which has emerged in commercial end-devices during the last few years is that of a programmable processing platform together with sufficient memory. For example, several SmartPhones supporting Java and equipped with many tens of MB of main memory and flash memory allow services to run autonomously – drawing upon locally cached content such as maps, videos, text and audio content. In Heywow we have developed two forms of a tourist guide called “CityWalk” which are based on autonomous operation (i.e. not depending on any network infrastructure) but are enhanced when network access, particularly via short range radio, is available.
Funded by
High-Tech-Offensive Bayern (HTO) from the Bayerischen Staatsregierung
Partners
Videokanal des Instituts