Symbian Platform+Overview

Symbian
Platform Overview
Operating System?
• Software Program—Similar in this

Sense to Other Programs
• Resource Encapsulation—Lens
through which Users and Applications
View System Resources like Hard
disk, DVD drives, Networks.
Operating System?
• Binds Hardware and Software

Together
Software Applications
Operating System
System Hardware
Operating System is Essential

Symbian OS—Overview
• Designed with User Applications
Smartphones as the
Target Platform in Mind
Servers
• Multitasking and
Multithreading
Supported Kernel
• Symbian OS Kernel is
Microkernel
• Mobile Phone System Hardware
Manufacturers Buy
Licenses of Symbian
Symbian OS—Layered
Model
• Symbian OS is Structured in Layers
• OS is Decomposed in Layers
• Layers are Decomposed in Blocks and Sub-blocks
• Blocks and Sub-blocks are Decomposed in
Components or Collection of Components
• Layers are Highest Level of Abstractions
• Components are Lowest Level of Abstractions
• Layers and Blocks are Logical Concepts
• Components are Physical Objects (Software Code)
Model
• Layers
– Each layer abstracts the functionality of the layer beneath and
provides services to the layer above
– Examples
• OS Services Layer
• UI Framework Layer
• Blocks
– A block or sub-block roughly corresponds to a “Technology
Domain”
– Examples:
• Telephony Services
• Network Services
• Components
– Components are the basic entities of the model
– Common, Optional and Replaceable functionality is defined at
Component Level
Model
• Symbian OS is Shipped in Headless Configuration
– Minimal User Interface
– Not Production Quality User Interface
• Mobile Phone Manufacturers Either
– Develop their Own Production Quality User Interface or
– License a Suitable User Interface
• Production Quality User Interfaces Already
Developed:
– S60 (Series 60)—Developed and Licensed by Nokia
– UIQ—Developed and Licensed by UIQ Technology
– MOAP (Mobile Oriented Application Platform)—
Developed by FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Access)
Consortium in Japan
– Series 80 and 90—Developed by Nokia but not Licensed
to Others
Architecture
S60 UIQ MOAP
UI Framework Layer Java ME

Uikon FEP Base CONE
Application Services Layer

Messaging,
Messaging,
Browsing,
Browsing,
App.
Data
Framework,
Synchronization
Data Sync
etc.etc.
OS Services Layer
Communication Services Multimedia
Generic OS Connectivity
Telephony Short Link Networking & Graphics
Services Services
Services Services Services Services
Base
Base Services
Service Layer
Layer
Kernel Services and Hardware Interface

UI Framework Layer
• Top Most Layer of the Symbian OS
• Provides Frameworks and Libraries for
Constructing a Customized User Interface on Top
of Symbian OS
• Fundamental Elements:
– Uikon Provides Customizable
C Control of the Overall GUI
Look & Feel
– Control Environment Provides Basic Class Hierarchies
for User Interface Controls (also called CONE Hierarchy)
– Front End Processor (FEP) Base Framework Provides
Input Event Capture (Keypad events, pen events, etc.)
– Animation Framework Provides Framework for
Animation
Application Services Layer
• Provides Support for Applications
– System Level Services
• Application Architecture (Basic Application Framework)
– Services that Support Generic Types of Applications
• vCard
• vCalendar
• Alarm Server
• Data Synchronization Services
– Services Based on Application Centric Technologies

• Mail (IMAP, SMTP, POP3)
• Messaging (SMS, MMS)
• Browsing (HTML, XML, etc.)
OS Services Layer
• Provides Servers, Frameworks, and Libraries that Extend
the System Below It
• Broad Categories of Services Supported
– Generic Operating System Services
• Task Scheduler
– Communication Services
• Telephony Services (GSM, CDMA, GPRS, EDGE etc)
• Networking Services (TCP/IP Stack Implementation, HTTP,SSL etc.)
• Short Link Services (Bluetooth, Infrared, USB, OBEX)
– Multimedia and Graphics Services
• Window Server—Provides Access to Screen Hardware
– Connectivity Services
• Supports Interaction with Desktop Host to:
– Perform Data Backup
– File Browsing and Transfer
– Software Installation from Desktop to Device
Base Services Layer
• Foundational Layer of Symbian OS
Supports:
– File Server
• File System Utilities
– User Library
• Basic Programming Model for Symbian OS
– Persistence Model
• Persistent Storage Framework
– Cryptography Library
Kernel Services and
Hardware Interface Layer
• Lowest Layer of Symbian OS
• Contains Kernel
• Abstracts Interfaces to Underlying
Hardware e.g.
– Logical and Physical Device Drivers
• Dependent on Underlying Hardware
• To Port OS to new Hardware, Kernel
Porting is Required
• Kernel Models
– EKA1—Original Old Kernel
– EKA2—Real Time Kernel
Java ME
• Virtual Machine
• MIDP
• CLDC
• Plugins for Interfacing with Native
System
Symbian OS—Key Design
Patterns
• System is “A Number of Collaborating
Components”
• Pattern—1: Client—Server Relationship Between
System Components
– Clients Request for Services
– Servers Own and Share Services/Resources among
Clients
– All System Resources are Managed by Servers—Kernel
Itself is a Server
– Window Server manages display resources
– Serial Server manages Data Communication Hardware
– Telephony Server manages Telephonic Services
– Uikon Server manages GUI abstractions
– Client and Server Run in their Own Separate Processes
in Separate Memory Segments
Symbian OS—Key Design
Patterns
• Pattern—2: Pervasive Asynchronous Methods in
Client-Server Communication
• Pattern—3: Framework Plugin Model (also Called
ECom)
– Used Extensively in All OS Layers
– Framework is a Layer Between a Calling Client and an
Implementation
– Structure Internal Relationships Among Parts of the

System
• Flexibility—Loading Functionality and Resources on
Demand
• Extensibility—Addition of Behavior without Re-Engineering
the System
UI Platforms
• S60
– Developed and Licensed by Nokia
– One-handed Use (keypad, 5-way navigator, soft
keys)
– Nokia N95, E65,
– http://www.s60.com UI Platforms
• UIQ
– Developed by UIQ Technology Owned by
SonyEricsson
– One & Two Hand Use
– Touch Screen and/or Keys Supported Operating System
– Sony Ericsson P990, W950, W960i
– http://www.uiq.com
• MOAP (Mobile Oriented Application Platform)—

Developed by FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Access) System Hardware
Consortium in Japan
– Closed Platform i.e. Does not Allow Users to Install
Applications
• Series 80 and 90—Developed by Nokia but not
Licensed to Others. Now Integrated in S60
S40
• Uses Relatively Simple Operating

System
• Do Not Support Multitasking
• Do Not Support Development for
Native Platform
• Only Support Java ME i.e. MIDlets
• Nokia 6300
References
• The Symbian OS Architecture

Sourcebook by Ben Morris
• Smartphone Operating System
Concepts with Symbian OS by
Michael J. Jipping

Symbian Platform+Overview

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Symbian

• Software Program—Similar in this

• Binds Hardware and Software

Operating System is Essential

UI Framework Layer Java ME

Application Services Layer

Kernel Services and Hardware Interface

– Services Based on Application Centric Technologies

– Structure Internal Relationships Among Parts of the

• MOAP (Mobile Oriented Application Platform)—

• Uses Relatively Simple Operating

• The Symbian OS Architecture

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