AASMP -- Android Application Server for Mobile Platforms

This paper presents the development of an Android Application Server for Mobile Platforms (AASMP). It is motivated by the widespread cloud computing and the popularity of mobile platforms, such as smartphones and tablet computers, running Android system. The main purposes of developing this AASMP include: to allow deploying Android applications on a server to be accessed by client-side users, not necessarily operating an Android platform, through a browser software without installing any plug-in modules, to support offloading the execution of existing Android applications to powerful server-side environment with neither modifying nor porting needed, to lay a foundation for developing server-side Android applications or services which are provided with the resources normally limited on mobile platforms. AASMP fully supports Android applications and, when client-side platform is installed a device management daemon, it is capable of accessing motion sensing devices that are commonly equipped on mobile platforms. In addition, AASMP is built with a connection manager in order to concurrently serve two or more clients. Performance evaluation showed acceptable results although data transmission and networking may incur cost or overheads. AASMP therefore may serve as one demonstrating example in providing mobile platforms an alternative to remote access and sharing application programs.