A Client-server Architecture for Accessing Multimedia and Geographic Databases within Embedded Systems

In this paper we present a software architecture that is dedicated to the development of an information system embedded in a vehicle allowing access to multimedia and geographic databases. This system provides the functio-nalities of a navigation system and uses a Global Posi-tioning System for recognizing the position of the vehicle. The client-server architecture allows communication between the components of the system, as well as access to various information sources. Communications are based on the use of a cellular phone and Internet connec-tion. Web browser and Java applets are used for infor-mation presentation and processing. The combined use of embedded local server and distant servers is one of the main characteristics of the system. 1