Development of the OSGi-based USB Terminal System for U-learning

U-learning (ubiquitous learning) systems, which deliver learning materials anytime and anywhere, allow learners to watch live lectures on PDAs, tablet PCs and notebook computers via broadband and wireless Internet. These systems have various problems; first, terminal devices are expensive, and it is difficult to maintain their efficiencies. Secondly, Internet does not guarantee quality of service (QoS), and in general it does not provide real-time services. Finally, the security of these systems is weaker in a local network than in an external network. The USB-based terminal system based on the OSGi service platform was designed as a ubiquitous system, in order to solve those problems. The USB terminals, used in this system, are inexpensive, and it is easy to maintain their performances. Also, this system solves the problems of security in a local network and provides guaranteed QoS. To accomplish this, the number of USB terminals connected to the system has to be limited according to the formula proposed in our paper. This system uses the OSGi specification as a middleware. It supports the discovery mechanism of the USB terminals, maintenance and administration of the system. Finally, this paper shows a driver`s license testing system as an example u-learning application1.