Data Lockers: Mobile-Agent Based Middleware for the Security and Availability of Roaming Users Data

Abstract

Accessing remote data anywhere and at anytime constitutes an important advantage in many business environments. However, when working with mobile devices, users face many problems related to: (1) device restrictions: mobile devices are resource-constrained, more vulnerable and fragile than stationary devices (devise exposure problems) and, (2) the communication media: wireless communications are often unstable, asymmetric and expensive (media problems). To alleviate these problems, we present a service, the Lockers Rent Service, for keeping the data of mobile users in a secure and safe space in a proxy at the fixed network, thus providing a solution to the device exposure problems. Data stored in data lockers are available even when the mobile device is disconnected. Furthermore, specific tasks are carried out at the fixed network on behalf of the mobile user, in this way relieving the media problems. The architecture of the Locker Rent Service is based on mobile agents.

This work is supported by CICYT: Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologì a, Spain. [TIC97-0962]; and MOVISTAR, a Spanish Cellular Phone Company.