Pizzlet Information System“When Spam just isn’t good enough…”

Troy LamberteBlake Norrish

Operational Concepts(Overview)

The Pizzlet Information System (PIS) facilitates the gathering and distribution of “Free Stuff” information. A server application receives and parses e-mails from an e-mail address, and sends relevant “free stuff” information to a list users running the Pizzlet Midlet on their cell phones. This is aimed at University of Washington students and the free food that is regularly distributed around campus.

System RequirementsWhat DOES it do for us?

User Scenario 1 (setup)1)      Bob hears about Pizzlet from a CS friend2)      Bob logs onto the World Wide Web3)      Bob navigates to the URL homepage of the Pizzlet Server.4)      Bob enters his username, cell phone number, and preferences about what kind of information he would like to receive. 5)      Bob downloads the Midlet portion of Pizzlet to his cell phone. Bob leaves

User Scenario 2 (use)

1)      Bob is sitting on campus like he always does2)      Bob is hungry like he always is3)      Bob uses his cell phone to check the latest information from Pizzlet.4)      Bob sees that there is some sort of Engineering kickoff meeting tonight in the HUB, and they have free pizza5) Bob goes, and eats free pizza

System Requirements (2)What it looks like: (Web part)

System and Software Architecture

The Components1. E-Mail Component; Responsible for e-mail connection

and e-mail retrieval 2. Parsing Object; Responsible for looking at e-mail and

determining if its “free stuff”3. Database Connection Object; Needed to get list of user’s

cell phone numbers for info distribution4. Client Communication Object; Responsible for ending

data to client’s cell phone5. Pizzlet Midlet; On Cell phone, responsible for

displaying info received from Pizzlet Server

Components (visual)

The Hard Parts: Email retrieval and Parsing

E-mail:•Use JavaMail API and JavaBeans Activation Framework to get mail.

•Use e-mail forwarding to internet POP server to bypass need for SSL or TLS (JavaMail does not support)

•It works… we already did it.

Parsing:• Search on predefined keywords/phrases in e-mail subject/body

• Assign e-mail “confidence” depending on number/type of keywords found

• High “Confidence” means free stuff, send info to cell phones

• Also use “filter” word to weed out junk, porn, etc.

Lifecycle Plan

Who wants it?I do, you do, we do, Bob does.

And who will support it?Little support needed. E-mail configuration needed (about)

quarterly to keep Pizzlet’s E-mail address on lots of distribution lists.

Tech Support: BYOTS (and RTFM?)

Conclusions:

• No known technical impossibilities– E-mail retreival solved– Parsing reasonable

• Good Product /Work ratio– Isn’t a huge project (small work), but could be an interesting

solution (Nice Product)

• Known user base– Me – You– Bob

• But….

… Some things that could go wrong

• Our system is dependent on a web-based free e-mail server.– Policy change (no free POP acocunts)– Out of business

• JackA**’s– People who know about system could easily

compromise it, send false e-mails, etc

FINAL Conclusion

Build it.