Programming Wireless Devices with the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition

Summary

• This book presents the Java™ 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME™) standards that support the development of applications for consumer devices such as cell phones, two-way pagers, and wireless personal organizers. To create these standards, Sun collaborated with such consumer device companies as Motorola, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, Palm Computing, Research In Motion, Siemens and many others. The result is a highly portable, small-footprint application development environment that brings the unique capabilities of Java technology, including platform independence and enhanced security, to the rapidly growing wireless market.

  This definitive Java™ Series guide provides a programmer's introduction to the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition. It presents a general description of wireless technology, an overview of the J2ME platform, and information on the small-footprint K Virtual Machine. In addition, the book details the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) and the Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP), the standards which define the Java platform features and libraries for wireless, resource-constrained devices.

  Key topics include:

  • Overview of the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME)
  • Goals, requirements, and scope of the CLDC and MIDP standardization efforts
  • High-level CLDC and MIDP platform architecture, including the security model
  • CLDC application model, and compatibility with the Java programming language and virtual machine specifications
  • Class libraries supported by the CLDC standard
  • MIDP application model
  • MIDP libraries, including user interface, networking, and persistence APIs

  Numerous sample applications illustrate how to put the technology and standards to work, including a PhotoAlbum application, an AddressBook application, and a Sokoban game application.

  Written by a team of authors that includes the original J2ME technology experts from Sun and Motorola, this book provides both a description of the Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition, as well as practical implementation advice. 

Table of Contents

Figures.
Preface.
1. Introduction.

The Wireless Internet Revolution.
Why Java Technology for Wireless Devices?
A Bit of History.
J2ME Standardization Efforts.

2. Overview of Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME).

Java 2 Platform.
Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME).
Key Concepts of the J2ME Architecture.
Introduction to the K Virtual Machine (KVM).

3. Goals, Requirements and Scope.

High-Level Goals.
Target Devices.
General Notes on Consumer Devices and Embedded Systems.
Requirements.
Scope of the CLDC and MIDP Standardization Efforts.

4. High-Level Architecture and Security.

High-Level Architecture.
Security.

5. Connected Limited Device Configuration.

Introduction.
CLDC Application Model.
Java Language Specification Compatibility.
Java Virtual Machine Specification Compatibility.

6. CLDC Libraries.

Background and Goals.
Classes Derived from J2SE60.
CLDC-Specific Classes.

7. Mobile Information Device Profile.

MIDP Expert Group.
Areas Covered by the MIDP Specification.

8. MIDP Application Model.

Limitations of the CLDC Application Model.
MIDlets.
MIDlet Suites.@AHEADS = MIDP System Software.

9.IDP User Interface Libraries.

Structure of the MIDP User Interface API.
Abstract Commands.
Interactions with MIDlet Application Lifecycle.
Graphics and Canvas in the Low-Level API.
Low-level API for Events in Canvases.
Graphics Drawing Primitives.
Creating and Using Images.
Using Screens.
Using Items.
A Note on Concurrency.

10. MIDP Networking Libraries.

Characteristics of Wireless Data Networks.
Network Interface Considerations.
The HttpConnection Interface.
Sample Code (NetClientMIDlet.java).

11. MIDP Persistence Libraries.

The Record Management System.
Manipulating Record Stores and Records.
Sample Code (RMSMIDlet.java).

12. Additional MIDP APIs.

Timer Support.
System Properties.
Application Resource Files.
Exiting a MIDlet.

13. Sample Applications.

The PhotoAlbum Application.
The AddressBook Application.
The Sokoban Game Application.
Development Environments for J2ME.

14. Summary.
Appendix A. CLDC Application Programming Interface.

ALMANAC LEGEND.
java.lang.
java.io.
java.util.
javax.microedition.io.

Appendix B. MIDP Application Programming Interface.

java.lang.
java.util.
javax.microedition.io.
javax.microedition.lcdui.
javax.microedition.midlet.
javax.microedition.rms.

Index.