This article explains about Android Operating System little. Then shows how to built a GPS Tracker Program in Mobile and Web Platform

1. THE DESIGN IN MOBILE AND WEB PLATFORM OF THE LOCATION
IDENTIFICATION APPLICATION WITH GPS SIGNALS AND ITS
REPORTING PROCESS
1
İbrahim ÖZGÖN, 2
Mesut KONAK, 3
Ali BULDU, 4
Kazım YILDIZ
1,2,3,4
Department of Technical Education Faculty, Marmara University Göztepe-İstanbul
1
e-mail: ibrahimozgon@gmail.com2
e-mail: mesutkonak89@gmail.com3
e-mail: alibuldu@marmara.edu.tr
4
e-mail: kazim.yildiz@marmara.edu.tr
ABSTRACT
The objective of this project is to retrieve location
information from recent popular devices such as
smart phones, navigation and some embedded
systems and present this information to the user.
Android OS, which is supported by Google
company and is also lately in wide use as a free and
open source operating system, and Java
programming language; were utilized within the
scope of this Project for designing the mobile
platform. On the other hand NET technology of
Microsoft Company, which has its root in past and
still continues to develop; was utilized in the web
part of this project. Moreover, patterns such as
repository and Model-view-Controller (MVC) were
included in the web platform. Finally the
application of the developed project on various
devices (smart phones, navigation) was explained.
KEYWORDS
Mobile platforms, Android platform, GPS, Web
Service, .NET technologies, Google Maps, Entity
Framework, Design patterns
1 INTRODUCTION
Android operating system was designed for Linux
based and primarily for touch screens (e.g. Smart
phones and tablet computers) [1]. Android was
introduced to the public in 2007 by Open Handset
Alliance which is a hardware, software and
telecommunication company alliance and which
devoted itself to develop open standards for mobile
devices [2].The first Android phone was introduced
to the market in October 2008 [3]. Android is open
source, in other words it is not developed under a
single firm as Windows operating system. The open
source codes of Android operating system are
published under the license of Apache [4]. As
people all around the world are making a
contribution to the development of Android, this
situation is pointed out to be the main reason for its
rapid growth.
There is Dalvik Virtual Machine inside the Android
operating system. Dalvik VM compiles applications
which are developed in java language and enables
them to work in the operating system. The
applications written in Android operating system
are developed in java programming language. In
order to develop an application, Android
Development Kit add-on is required [10]. In
October 2012 it was estimated that there were
approximately 700,000 applications in Google Play
Store and 25 billion applications were downloaded
[5-6].
Android operating system has begun to be
developed in 2003 Palo Alto California by Andy
Rubin (founder of Danger) [7], Rich Miner
(founder of Wildfire Communications Asc.) [8],
Nick Sears (primary vice president in T-Mobile) [9]
and Chris White (WebTV designer and interface
developer). In August 2005 Google managed to
incorporate in Android Inc. by holding shares.
Android gained significant momentum with this
enterprise by Google.
2 ANDROID APPLICATION
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
The services used to develop Android applications
are Java Development Kit, Android SDK, IDE.
2.1 Java Development Kit(JDK)
Java Development Kit (JDK) Java SE(Standart
Edition), Java EE(Enterprise Edition ) and Java
ME(Micro Edition) are kits which are aimed for
application developers who design software for
Solaris, Linux, Mac OS X ve Windows operating
systems [11].
2.2 Android SDK
Android SDK API provides the required libraries
and developer tools for creating tests and de-bug
applications.
2.3 IDE(Recommended Eclipse)
Eclipse, is an open source embedded developing
environment. Although it’s main focus point is Java
and Java related technologies, thanks to its
flexibility it can be used for such languages as C,
C++, PHP and Phyton.
3 GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
(GPS)
GPS (Global Positioning System) is an satellite web
which constantly transmits encoded data and which

2. is also used to specify any location on the earth
according to time, place and weather conditions by
measuring the distance between satellites [12].
These are satellites that are controlled by earthly
stations and transmitting radio signals which can be
detected by any GPS receivers.GPS satellites are
located approximately 20.000 km away from the
earth. All of these satellites belong to US Defense
Department. The first GPS satellite was launched in
1978. GPS satellites were named after being
divided in 4 sections. The first 10 satellites which
were sent for development has been named “Block
I”. The 28 satellites launched between the years
of1989-1997 were named “Block II”. The latest
developed 19 satellites belonging to this series has
been also named “Block IIA”.The 24 GPS satellites
that complete the primary system were launched in
1994.The third generation GPS satellites that are
still developed and that would replace the previous
satellites would be named as “Block IIR”. New
generation GPS satellites were launched in 2005. It
said that in near future the number of satellites
would increase [13].
Figure : GPS Communication [14]
3.1 Specifying Location
The system depends on the “back azimuth” in
geodesy. Back azimuth, includes observations and
calculations made from known location to unknown
location. The known locations are GPS satellites.
The unknown locations are earth fixes co-ordinates
(X,Y,Z). In order to calculate the location of the
receiver on the earth, the GPS receiver compares
the time that the signal is reached there and
calculates the distance of GPS to the receiver.
Granted that the radio signals are travelling in light
speed (radio signals are travelling nearly as fast as
in the space); the distance of GPS to receiver can be
found with the formula of Distance equals motion
multiplying time. [16]
4 MARMARA GPS TRACKER
Marmara GPS tracking system was presented as a
contribution to developing technology by using
recent popular technologies. It appeals to numerous
business and personal areas.
Marmara GPS Tracking System program was
designed to operate mobile and web platforms
together and within each other. As the objective of
the system is to inform two users who are in two
different locations, the Mobile platform has been
designed addressing the travelling user and the web
platform has been designed addressing the
observing user. The observer here may also become
the travelling user. In all cases it is not necessary
that a user observes the other.. The person who
installed the program on a device, can see his/her
location along with its time on the Web platform.
Figure : Marmara GPS Tracking System Process
Diagram
The main outline of the program can be
summarized as below:
• The client section, sends the identified user
name, password and IMEI information to
web service and server, thus provides
registration to the system
• Retrieving location information and
sending data
• Listening the condition of the phone and
letting it close down
• Listening in-calls, sending location
information to received calls
• Recording location information to the
server via internet connection according to
the user defined intervals

3. Figure : Marmara GPS-Tracking Program
4.1 Client Section
In order to receive active location and place
information, registration of the program is required.
This registration is realized when the program was
first installed. User name, password, e-mail address
and if there is an identified company number this is
also entered in the mssql server via web-service.
Figure : Marmara GPS Tracking Program User Defining
Screen
4.2. Retrieving location information and
sending the data
In order to constantly retrieve GPS information the
objects of location Listener and location Manager is
used in the Android system. GPS_PROVIDER and
NETWORK_PROVIDER methods can be used
over the Location Manager object.
GPS_PROVIDER retrieves location information
from GPS satellite signals. The application requires
the permission of android permission.
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION in the Android
Manifest file [17]. If there is no access to GPS
satellite, the location can be retrieved with
NETWORK_PROVIDER through wireless
connection. The application requires the permission
of android permission.
ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION or android
permission ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION in the
Android Manifest files [17]. Location objects
process the acquired information and transform
them into two values as longitude and latitude for
the programmer. If entered upon a supported map,
these values show the location.
When the application is closed and during the user
defined intervals in order to receive location and
place information and constantly keep the
application working on the background; a service is
required. Android services enable application to
continue to work even if the background is closed
[18].
The acquired location information and IMEI
information of the Android device are registered on
the database through web services structured by
Microsoft.Net. Web services which were structured
in net environment, are transformed into soap
services, namely classes and methods with a tool in
the internet environment. Thus these can be used in
Android environment [19].
The formed web service class and methods are
imported into the project. Web services are formed
in ksoap2 standards and are ready to be used in
Android environment. “ksoap2-android jar” file
should also be included in the project [20].
4.3 Listening the state of the phone and
letting it close down
In case of closing and re-opening of the phone,
Marmara GPS application should re-start the server
and transmit the location and place information
within the defined interval. Status changes in
Android platform are notified as system notification
to the user. Broadcast Intents that forms a special
intent group provides information to the application
about system changes. Broadcast Intents just as

4. normal intents includes defined fixed strings at
android.cantent.intent class [21].
Broadcast Intents may be received one after another
by more than one receiver. It is also possible to
send Broadcast Intents inside the application. Yet
this case would be very rare. Since Broadcast
Intents are send based on system, there is no reason
to send them based on application.
Broadcast Intent Receivers only task is to wait for
Broadcast Intents. These Receivers are active only
while component is working and only respond to
particular broadcast intents.
Static Broadcast Receivers and declared on
Android-Manifest file.
Only the intent filter is defined. This filter of
Broadcast Receivers enable re-starts when the
phone is opened.
<receiver android:name=".OnBootReceiver">
<intent-filter>
<actionandroid:name="android.intent.action.BOOT
_COMPLETED"/>
</intent-filter>
</receiver>
4.4. Listening in-calls, sending location
information to received calls
It identifies calls of the phone number which is
already defined in settings of the application and
automatically sends current location information in
the form of Short Message Service (SMS).
Android-Manifest file waits for broadcast intent
filtration and only reacts to in-coming intent calls.
<action android:name="android.intent.
action.PHONE_STATE"></action>
Figure : Marmara GPS Tracking Program Settings
Screen
4.5 Recording location information to
the server via internet connection
according to the user defined intervals
Location send intervals can be chosen from the
settings of Marmara GPS application. After the
installation of the application it starts sending
information in 5 minutes intervals. In addition from
the settings section; fields such as user name, e-
mail address, password and company number may
be modified.
4.6 Web Platform
The second part of the Marmara GPS tracking
system which is tracking on the web platform has
been developed in C# programming language that
is owned by Microsoft Company. The design of the
project was based on Model-view-Controller(MVC)
ve Repository architecture.
4.6.1 Repository Pattern
In many applications, the business logic accesses
data from data stores such as databases, SharePoint
lists, or Web services. Directly accessing the data
can result in the following:
• Duplicated code
• A higher potential for programming errors
• Weak typing of the business data
• Difficulty in centralizing data-related
policies such as caching
• An inability to easily test the business
logic in isolation from external
dependencies [22]
4.6.2 Model-View-Controller (MVC) Pattern
The ASP.NET MVC Framework is an open
source web application framework that implements
the model–view–controller (MVC) pattern. [24]
Figure : Marmara GPS Tracking

5. Model–View–Controller (MVC) has a flow chart as
shown below. In Model–View–Controller (MVC)
the parts of data, code and view are separate. The
processes are handled in separate areas; yet there is
a perfect link between them.
Repository pattern is frequently used in database
focused projects. With Repository, the part which
reaches to data is moved to a completely new area.
In this way the processes carried out with data and
other processes can be handled in different areas.
4.6.3 Design of the System
Figure : Entity framework-Database tables
The image shows the tables which are connected to
database with entity framework. When the database
is connected through entity framework, if desired
the tables in the database can be used as models. In
this way the registration is made easy and the
database table fields are directly inside the code.
The process is carried out on the model and lastly
the necessary part is acquired through a connection
to the database.
Figure : Repository and Model-View-Controller (MVC)
pattern
The main outline of the project is shown in the
image. Solution is constituted of two projects. Core
project links to Repository pattern and enables data
communication. Web project is structured on
Model–View–Controller (MVC) pattern and forms
the site design, interface communication of the
project.
Figure : Repository pattern
Marmara.GPS.Core project is shown in the image.
Core project is communicates through Entity
Framework with the database in cloud system and
sends the data to Web project if desired.
Marmara GPS Web project is shown in the image.
Visual parts of the site and user form fields are
formed in the Web project. Web project is in
relation with Core project and pulls out the data
transmits it to the user.
Figure : Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern
.
4.6.4 Jquery-UI Map

6. Figure : Marmara GPS Map
Jquery, is a open source library developed in
javascript language. Due to its open source nature,
it is improving rapidly. Jquery, provides
convenience in web forms to the programmer and
also provides visual forms to the user. In this
project, users’ location information is retrieved and
presented to the desired person with “jquery-ui
map”. The location information of desired time can
be reached with an integrated form on the map.
5 CONCLUSIONS
With the developed application company or user
can monitor location information with the app
installed in cell phone. Android application, after
asking for personal information in opening screen
completes the user registration and shows location
information with the user defined range. The entry
into the web site is provided with personal
information of the user. In order to open a company
registration in the site is required.
With Marmara GPS Tracking application, it is
aimed that the tracking costs of company
employees and vehicles are reduced to minimum.
The location can be specified with a Navigation
device or a mobile phone that uses Android
operating system without the necessity of any
additional device. As an extra feature if the phone
number is registered in the phone; when this device
is called the location information is send by a text
message. This case is crucial when internet
connection is not possible yet GPS signals can be
received.
REREFENCES
[1] Elgin, Ben (17 Ağustos, 2005). "Google Buys
Android for Its Mobile Arsenal". Bloomberg Business
week. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 24 Şubat
2011. 20 Şubat 2012. "In what could be a key move in its
nascent wireless strategy, Google (GOOG) has quietly
acquired startup Android, Inc., ..."
[2] "Industry Leaders Announce Open Platform for
Mobile Devices" (Press release). Open Handset Alliance.
5 Kasım 2007. 17 Şubat 2012
[3] "T-Mobile G1 Spec". Infosite and comparisons. GSM
Arena. 12 Ekim 2012.
[4] "Android Overview". Open Handset Alliance. 15
Şubat 2012.
[5] "Google Play Matches Apple's iOS With 700,000
Apps".
[6] "Google Play hits 25 billion downloads".
[7] Markoff, John (4 Kasım 2007). "I, Robot: The Man
Behind the Google Phone". The New York Times. 15
Şubat 2012
[8] Kirsner, Scott (2 Eylül 2007). "Introducing the
Google Phone". The Boston Globe. Archived from the
original on 4 Ocak 2010. 15 Şubat 2012.
[9] "T-Mobile Brings Unlimited Multiplayer Gaming to
US Market with First Launch of Nokia N-Gage Game
Deck" (Press release). T-Mobile. 23 Eylül 2003. 15 Şubat
2012.
[10] developers.android.com- Erişim tarihi 26 Nis. 13
[11] "Java SE 7 Features and Enhancements". Oracle
Corporation. 1 Ocak 2013.
[12] http://www.aero.org/education/primers/gps/, The
Global Positioning System, 10 Aralık 2008
[13] http://www.trimble.com/gps/whygps.shtml, GPS
Tutorial, 15 Aralık 2008

7. [14] http://www.directionsmag.com/articles/the-
fundamentals-of-gps/124028
[15] Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Kandilli Rasathanesi Deprem
Araştırma Enstitüsü Jeodezi Ana Bilim Dalı, Global
Konum Belirleme Sistemi(GPS), Kasım 2010
[16]
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices
/ato/service_units/techops/
navservices/gnss/gps/usersegments/ , GPS - User
Segment, 18 Ocak 2009
[17]http://developer.android.com/reference/android/Mani
fest.permission.html
[18]http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/S
ervice.html
[19]http://www.wsdl2code.com/pages/home.aspx
[20]http://ksoap2.sourceforge.net
[21]http://developer.android.com/guide/components/inten
ts-filters.html
[22] http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff649690.a
spx
[23]
http://blog.teamthinklabs.com/index.php/2011/08/17/asp-
net-mvc-3-the-14four-template/
[24]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASP.NET_MVC_Framework