A mobile service architecture for improving availability and continuity

In mobile multi-network multi-domain environments services can be anything and can have any name. This poses problems for the service availability and consequently service continuity since services may not be discovered in time for being used. Services offering equivalent functions and capabilities such as GSM voice, IP telephony, etc. are usually considered as different by the network system and are not interchangeable. This paper proposes a mobile service architecture which enables the discovery and consumption of equivalent services. The solution provides also seamless service continuity by incorporating dynamic discovery of equivalent services with dynamic switching of available services. The solution offers personalisation while preserving both flexibility and control of the user. Although most of the storage and processing of data are located in the network the service continuity process is initiated, controlled and decided by the mobile device's side. A proof-of-concept including a client implementation on Android is presented.