in this paper, we introduce a mobile u-health service system called THE-MUSS. THE-MUSS supports the development and running of u-health services with functions, modules, and facilities that are commonly required for various mobile u-health services. Aiming to achieve reusability and evolvability design goals, basic modules to support bio-signal capturing, processing, analysis, diagnosis, and feedback are developed and stacked in the layered architecture of THE-MUSS. A U-health service platform, design tool, portal, and matrix-based disease group identification method are the major components constituting the THE-MUSS architecture. We confirmed that THE-MUSS is practically useful for mobile u-health services by developing mobile stress and weight management services on THE-MUSS. The more u-health services are developed in THE-MUSS, the better services it can provide in the future. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.