Developing a Mobile Client for a Complex Web Application via Reverse-Engineering

In 2005, when mobile applications were just starting to come into use, we created a full-fledged mobile client for BlackBoard eLearning Suite 6. We had to reverse-engineer the system protocol to emulate a web-browser from the native client application.

Industry:

Education

Region:

USA

Technologies:

Java, J2ME, Reverse engineering

Volume:

<= 1 man-year

Problem

Our client needed a mobile client for BlackBoard eLearning Suite, even though there was neither documentation nor an official API to work with.

Solution

We reverse-engineered the BlackBoard eLearning Suite web application and developed a mobile one that simulated a web browser. That mobile client became the first Blackboard eLearning Suite mobile client ever.