A key challenge of current multi-user web applications is to provide users with interesting events and information in real-time. This research reviews the most common real-time web techniques to identify drawbacks while exploring solutions to improve simplicity, efficiency, and compatibility within a client-server environment. Two solutions are proposed for enhancing the efficiency of real-time web techniques by reducing client-server communication. First, a model of browser monitoring control observes the browser activity and decides if to postpone client-server communication in the case of inactive tabs. This model was implemented and tested with results demonstrating that a significant number of client-server connections can be avoided in the browser background. These results suggest the solution can be optimised for any real-time technique as it benefits from being a developer side technique that works consistently on all browsers. Second, ‘Adaptive Polling’ is a pull-based real-time web technique to overcome bandwidth issues of the reverse AJAX method of ‘Polling’ by controlling the frequency of requesting updates from the server based on the last server response. This approach is implemented and tested with results showing how a significant number of redundant connections can be avoided while the server does not return updates. This solution is a good alternative to other real-time web techniques as it features low latency, the simplicity of implementation, and compatibility with all browsers and servers.

The distribution of real-time GIS (Geographic Information System) data among users is now more important than ever as it becomes increasingly affordable and important for scientific and government agencies to monitor environmental phenomena in real-time. A growing number of sensor networks are being deployed all over the world, but there is a lack of solutions for their effective monitoring. Increasingly, GIS users need access to real-time sensor data from a variety of sources, and the data must be represented in a visually-pleasing way and be easily accessible. In addition, users need to be able to collaborate with each other to share and discuss specific sensor data. The real-time acquisition, analysis, and sharing of sensor data from a large variety of heterogeneous sensor sources is currently difficult due to the lack of a standard architecture to properly represent the dynamic properties of the data and make it readily accessible for collaboration between users. This thesis will present a JEE-based publisher/subscriber architecture that allows real-time sensor data to be displayed collaboratively on the web, requiring users to have nothing more than a web browser and Internet connectivity to gain access to that data. The proposed architecture is evaluated by showing how an AJAX-based and a Flash-based web application are able to represent the real-time sensor data within novel collaborative environments. By using the latest web-based technology and relevant open standards, this thesis shows how map data and GIS data can be made more accessible, more collaborative and generally more useful.

The distribution of real-time GIS (Geographic Information System) data among users is now more important than ever as it becomes increasingly affordable and important for scientific and government agencies to monitor environmental phenomena in real-time. A growing number of sensor networks are being deployed all over the world, but there is a lack of solutions for their effective monitoring. Increasingly, GIS users need access to real-time sensor data from a variety of sources, and the data must be represented in a visually-pleasing way and be easily accessible. In addition, users need to be able to collaborate with each other to share and discuss specific sensor data. The real-time acquisition, analysis, and sharing of sensor data from a large variety of heterogeneous sensor sources is currently difficult due to the lack of a standard architecture to properly represent the dynamic properties of the data and make it readily accessible for collaboration between users. This thesis will present a JEE-based publisher/subscriber architecture that allows real-time sensor data to be displayed collaboratively on the web, requiring users to have nothing more than a web browser and Internet connectivity to gain access to that data. The proposed architecture is evaluated by showing how an AJAX-based and a Flash-based web application are able to represent the real-time sensor data within novel collaborative environments. By using the latest web-based technology and relevant open standards, this thesis shows how map data and GIS data can be made more accessible, more collaborative and generally more useful.

The distribution of real-time GIS (Geographic Information System) data among users is now more important than ever as it becomes increasingly affordable and important for scientific and government agencies to monitor environmental phenomena in real-time. A growing number of sensor networks are being deployed all over the world, but there is a lack of solutions for their effective monitoring. Increasingly, GIS users need access to real-time sensor data from a variety of sources, and the data must be represented in a visually-pleasing way and be easily accessible. In addition, users need to be able to collaborate with each other to share and discuss specific sensor data. The real-time acquisition, analysis, and sharing of sensor data from a large variety of heterogeneous sensor sources is currently difficult due to the lack of a standard architecture to properly represent the dynamic properties of the data and make it readily accessible for collaboration between users. This thesis will present a JEE-based publisher/subscriber architecture that allows real-time sensor data to be displayed collaboratively on the web, requiring users to have nothing more than a web browser and Internet connectivity to gain access to that data. The proposed architecture is evaluated by showing how an AJAX-based and a Flash-based web application are able to represent the real-time sensor data within novel collaborative environments. By using the latest web-based technology and relevant open standards, this thesis shows how map data and GIS data can be made more accessible, more collaborative and generally more useful.

The thesis describes the Meteor Platform and the process of real-time web application design and development. The objective is to provide information covering the technology behind real-time web applications and to describe the Meteor application design and development process utilizing the MMSP methodology. First part of the thesis defines what a real-time web application is and describes Node.js platform and javascript frameworks Mojito, Derby and Meteor. The second part deals with Meteor application design and development process and provides information about used architecture and components. The last chapter provides recommendation on Meteor application development and suitability of the framework for various types of applications, as well as utilization of the MMSP methodology for Meteor application development. The main output and benefit of the thesis is the real-time web application Chute Achiever, which can be used for educational purposes. This thesis is the first academic work about Meteor platform published at the University of Economics.

The distribution of real-time GIS (Geographic Information System) data among users is now more important than ever as it becomes increasingly affordable and important for scientific and government agencies to monitor environmental phenomena in real-time. A growing number of sensor networks are being deployed all over the world, but there is a lack of solutions for their effective monitoring. Increasingly, GIS users need access to real-time sensor data from a variety of sources, and the data must be represented in a visually-pleasing way and be easily accessible. In addition, users need to be able to collaborate with each other to share and discuss specific sensor data. The real-time acquisition, analysis, and sharing of sensor data from a large variety of heterogeneous sensor sources is currently difficult due to the lack of a standard architecture to properly represent the dynamic properties of the data and make it readily accessible for collaboration between users. This thesis will present a JEE-based publisher/subscriber architecture that allows real-time sensor data to be displayed collaboratively on the web, requiring users to have nothing more than a web browser and Internet connectivity to gain access to that data. The proposed architecture is evaluated by showing how an AJAX-based and a Flash-based web application are able to represent the real-time sensor data within novel collaborative environments. By using the latest web-based technology and relevant open standards, this thesis shows how map data and GIS data can be made more accessible, more collaborative and generally more useful.

As the technologies evolve, more complex products such as real-time web applications are made. These applications introduce new usability challenges and interaction design opportunities. The purpose of this work was to evaluate and enhance the usability of a complex real-time web user interface using a User-centered design approach. Another aim was to investigate how to adapt the current usability research methods, guidelines and principles to today's modern technology, such as real-time web applications. The research was carried out for the Stockholm based start-up Challengermode AB that is currently developing a competitive gaming platform with a focus in automatic tournaments. The research method consisted of a user and system analysis, usability testing and a creative design workshop. The research results were used in combination with current user interface design guidelines and principles to improve and design new features to the current user interface. The results show that the User-centered design approach in combination with Participatory design was a successful way of evaluating and improving the usability of the Challengermode real-time web user interface. The current usability research and design guidelines are applicable to modern technology, but in order to evaluate the Challengermode real-time web user interface, and other applications with similar functionality in a realistic scenario, traditional usability testing can be limited. Furthermore, the main takeaways from the user interface improvement process is that designing for empty states and not hiding important elements even though they are not active is as important as designing for the optimal case where data is available. / I och med att tekniken förbättras utvecklas allt mer komplexa produkter såsom realtidswebbapplikationer. Dessa applikationer inför nya utmaningar och möjligheter inom användbarhet och interaktionsdesign. Syftet med detta arbete var att utvärdera och förbättra användbarheten av ett komplex realtidswebbgränssnitt med hjälp av en användarcentrerad designstrategi. Ett annat syfte var att undersöka hur man kan anpassa existerande metoder, riktlinjer och principer inom användbarhetsforskning och interaktionsdesign för dagens moderna teknik, såsom realtidswebbapplikationer. Arbetet genomfördes för det Stockholm baserade start-up företaget Challengermode AB som för närvarande utvecklar en tävlingsplattform för eSport med fokus på automatiska turneringar. Forskningsmetoden bestod av en användar- och systemanalys, användbarhetstester och en kreativ designworkshop. Forskningsresultaten användes sedan i kombination med riktlinjer och principer inom interaktionsdesign för att förbättra och utveckla nya funktioner för det aktuella användargränssnittet. Resultaten visar att en användarcentrerad designstrategi i kombination med kooperativ design var ett framgångsrikt sätt att utvärdera och förbättra användbarheten av Challengermodes realtidswebbgränssnitt. Dagens forskning inom användbarhet och designriktlinjer är applicerbara på modern teknik, men för att utvärdera Challengermodes realtidswebbgränssnitt, och andra liknande applikationer i ett realistiskt scenario, kan traditionella användbarhetstester vara begränsade. De viktigaste slutsatserna från designprocessen är att design för element i tomma tillstånd är lika viktigt som design för element i det optimala tillståndet där data är tillgänglig.

Les services de conversation Web en temps réel permettent aux utilisateurs d'avoir des appels audio et vidéo et de transférer directement des données sur Internet. Les opérateurs OTT (OTT) tels que Google, Skype et WhatsApp proposent des services de communication économiques avec des fonctionnalités de conversation évoluées. Avec l'introduction de la norme de Web Real Time Communication (WebRTC), n'importe quelle page Web peut désormais offrir des services d'appel. WebRTC est utilisé comme technologie sous-jacente pour déployer de nouvelles plateformes de communication centrées sur le Web. Ces plates-formes visent à offrir de nouvelles méthodes modernes de contact et de communication sur le web. Contrairement aux réseaux de télécommunication traditionnels, les identités sur le Web sont basées sur des profils d'utilisateur et des informations d'identification auto-affirmés. Par conséquent, les opérateurs Web sont incapables d'assurer la fiabilité de leurs abonnés. Les services de communication Web restent exposés à des menaces dans lesquelles le contexte social entre les parties communicantes est manipulé. Un attaquant se définit comme une entité de confiance pour transmettre de fausses informations à l'utilisateur ciblé. Les menaces typiques contre le contexte social comprennent la fausse représentation d'identité, l’hameçonnage, le spam et la distribution illégale de contenu. Afin d'assurer la sécurité sur les services de communication Web, la confiance entre les parties communicantes doit être établie. La première étape consiste à permettre aux utilisateurs d'identifier leurs participants communicants afin de savoir avec qui ils parlent. Cependant, l'authentification seule ne peut garantir la fiabilité d'un appelant. De nouvelles méthodes d'estimation de la réputation de l'appelant devraient également être intégrées dans les services d'appel Web. Par conséquent, dans cette thèse, nous présentons un nouveau cadre de confiance qui fournit des informations sur la fiabilité des appelants dans les réseaux de communication Web. Notre approche est organisée en quatre parties. Premièrement, nous décrivons la notion de confiance dans la communication web en temps réel. Un modèle de confiance est présenté pour identifier les relations de confiance nécessaires entre les entités d'un système de communication. Les paramètres requis pour calculer la confiance dans les services de communication Web sont officiellement introduits. Deuxièmement, nous montrons comment les protocoles Single-Sign-On (SSO) peuvent être utilisés pour authentifier les utilisateurs d'une manière Peer-to-Peer (P2P) sans dépendre de leur fournisseur de service. Nous présentons une comparaison entre trois protocoles d'authentification appropriés (OAuth, BrowserID, OpenID Connect). La comparaison montre que OpenID Connect est le meilleur candidat en termes de confidentialité des utilisateurs. Troisièmement, un modèle de calcul de confiance est proposé pour mesurer la fiabilité des appelants dans un réseau de communication. La légitimité et l'authenticité d'un appelant sont calculées à l'aide de recommandations, tandis que la popularité d'un appelant est estimée en utilisant son comportement de communication. Un abonné d'un service de communication sera capable de visualiser la confiance calculée d'autres membres avant d'initier ou d'accepter une demande d'appel. Enfin, la réputation d'un appelant est utilisée pour lutter contre les appels nuisibles générés sur les réseaux de communication. Les appels de nuisance sont décrits comme des appels de spam non sollicités en masse générés sur un réseau de communication à des fins de marketing et de tromperie. Les enregistrements de données d'appel et les commentaires reçus par les parties communicantes sont utilisés pour déterminer la réputation de l'appelant. La réputation évaluée est utilisée pour différencier les spammeurs et les appelants légitimes du réseau / Real-time web conversational services allow users to have audio and video calls over the Internet. Over-The-Top operators such as Google and Facebook offer cost-effective communication services with advanced conversational features. With the introduction of WebRTC standard, any website or web application can now have built-in communication capabilities. WebRTC technology is expected to boost Voice-Over-IP by making it more robust, flexible and accessible. Telco operators also intend to use the underlying technology to offer communication services to their subscribers over the web. Emerging web-centric communication platforms aims to offer modern methods of contacting and communicating over the web. However, web operators are unable to ensure the trustworthiness of their subscribers, since identities are based on self-asserted user profiles and credentials. Thus, they remain exposed to many social threats in which the context between communicating parties is manipulated. An attacker usually misrepresents himself to convey false information to the targeted victim. Typical social threats include phishing, spam, fraudulent telemarketing and unlawful content distribution. To ensure user security over communication networks, trust between communicating parties needs to be established. Communicating participants should be able to verify each other’s identity to be sure of whom they are talking to. However, authentication alone cannot guarantee the trustworthiness of a caller. New methods of estimating caller’s reputation should also be built in web calling services. In this thesis, we present a novel trust framework that provides information about the trustworthiness of callers in web communication networks. Our approach is organized in four parts. Firstly, we describe the notion of trust in real-time web communication services. A trust model approach is presented to formally introduce the trust computation parameters and relationships in a communication system. Secondly, we detail the mechanism of identity provisioning that allows communicating participants to verify each other’s identity in a Peer-to-Peer fashion. The choice of authentication protocol highly impacts user privacy. We showed how OpenID Connect used for Single-Sign-On authentication purposes can be effectively used for provisioning identities while preserving user privacy. Thirdly, a trust computational model is proposed to measure the trustworthiness of callers in a communication network. The legitimacy and genuineness of a caller’s identity is computed using recommendations from members of the network. On the other hand, the popularity of a caller is estimated by analyzing its behavior in the network. Each subscriber will be able to visualize the computed trust of other members before initiating or accepting a call request. Lastly, the reputation of a caller is used to combat nuisance calls generated over communication networks. Nuisance calls are described as unsolicited bulk spam phone calls generated for marketing and deceptive purposes. Caller’s reputation is computed using the diversity of outgoing calls, call duration, recommendations from called participants, reciprocity and repetitive nature of calls. The reputation is used to differentiate between legitimate and nuisance calls generated over the network