Overview
As a generic protocol, WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is an emerging industry standard for wireless Internet-like services and information on handled devices. As it was developed without the in-vehicle environment, the ITSWAP project advances and promotes WAP services to cater for the ITS industry's specific requirements.
Key operational goals of the project included:
In relation to ITS services:
- To build and trial ITS services based on WAP that can be accessed via mobile telephone and within a vehicle.
- To define the mechanisms for offering pan-European service including commercial and technical feasibility and definition of roaming mechanisms between service providers.
- To identify elements necessary to allow the convergence of WAP with other services such as GATS . The work concerning GATS has been done in cooperation with the Telematics Forum which has been the major promoter of this convergence.
In relation to WAP:
- To test WAP in the in-car environment and measure its ability to support in-vehicle ITS services.
- To propose recommendations to improve WAP as WAP is for the moment optimised for hand-held devices.
- To liaise with all relevant initiatives working on WAP or related issues (e.g. dissemination of information to mobile users, integration of technologies within the vehicle).
In relation to WAP terminals:
- To study the HMI aspects for the provision of WAP services in the car.
- To define HMI recommendations and implement them, when possible, in the field trials.
- To implement localisation functions within WAP using GPS or/and cell_ID or/and network based localisation to provide location based ITS services.
- To test in-vehicle WAP terminals in the field trials.
In relation to business models and service implementation:
- To define the critical elements of the business cases for delivering WAP-base ITS services including costs for the users, personalisation of data, etc.
- To promote adoption of WAP as ITS platform by ITS service providers and automotive industry.
The work in this Project has been divided in six Work Packages (WPs) including project management (WP1).
The WP (WP2) on Service requirement definition has identified ITS services that can be provided over WAP and compiled a comprehensive overview on user needs to be fulfilled by ITS services that have been demonstrated in the project.
The WP on Service specifications and system implementation (WP3) has developed a system architecture for the provision of ITS services based on WAP specifications and has specified requirements for service roaming between different pilot sites.
The objective of each field trial (WP4) has then been to implement ITS services using the specifications developed in WP3. 4 sites have been active in the project: UK, Sweden, France and Italy. A wide range of ITS services has been implemented including route guidance, on-trip and pre-trip information, Point Of Interest, remote control of vehicle and car pooling.
The WAP performances have then been addressed in WP5 Assessment and Evaluation. Recommendations to improve WAP have been proposed. WP5 has also proposed an evolution path for ITS services on wireless technology platforms. Finally, the project has created a strong awareness of its results through WP6 Dissemination and implementation.
Funding
Results
The ITSWAP project has contributed to the development of innovative services delivering Internet-like information to mobile users.
More specifically, it has established the technical and commercial feasibility of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) services provided over the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). The project has defined and tested the WAP delivery mechanisms for a number of on-board and off-board ITS applications provided in different field trial sites across Europe and has promoted the adoption of WAP as an ITS platform for service providers and car industry.
Policy implications
The project has defined and tested the WAP delivery mechanisms for a number of on-board and off-board ITS applications provided in different field trial sites across Europe and has promoted the adoption of WAP as an ITS platform for service providers and car industry.
Intelligent Transport Systems
Key findings:
The ITSWAP project has contributed to the development of innovative services delivering Internet-like information to mobile users. More specifically, it has established the technical and commercial feasibility of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) services provided over the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP).
The project has defined and tested the WAP delivery mechanisms for a number of on-board and off-board ITS applications provided in different field trial sites across Europe and has promoted the adoption of WAP as an ITS platform for service providers and car industry.