Information systems and management in business Dr Ali H Higgi Information systems and management in...

Information systems and management in business Dr Ali H Higgi

Information systems and management in business

Chapter 3Electronic Business and Business Mobility Enabling Technologies


3.1 Introduction

E-Biz enables and facilitates E commerce Intra-organizational collaboration Inter-organizational collaboration Business mobility

E-Biz service key delivery goals Electronic, efficient, cost effective, secure and

interactive E-Biz service delivered via a set of

powerful enabling technologies


3.2 E Business Technologies

E-Biz enabling technologies Classification May be classified into seven different

categories Internet Servers Data Structuring Security Interactivity Business Mobility Interoperability

http://www.halaeducation.com/BookImages/Ch3/Figure31.jpg


3.3 The Internet, Key processes and Protocols

The Internet – What is it? When an umber of local area networks

(LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) are connected together, the result is a larger network which is typically referred to as an internetwork

The Internet is the most popular internetwork



The Internet Key processes and technologies Two key processes

Web request and fulfillment process Addressing



Web request and fulfillment process The action involving a user requesting a Web

contents through an Internet browser and a Web server delivering the requested contents

Two way information exchange process between a client software and a Web server

Typically there exist no relationship between the client and the Web server

The relation is established via the Web process and is terminated at the end of it

A Web process is normally initiated with Web contents requests by a user

Every new request establishes a new process



Web request and fulfillment process How does it Work?

A four steps process Step1: Web contents request Step 2: Web request forward to Web

server Step3: Web server action – response Step4: Client software response



Internet addressing process Every Web server connected to the

Internet has a unique physical address known as a uniform resource locator or

URL Web contents could be located and

sourced from



Internet addressing process The general structure for a URL

Protocol://Domain Name: Port/Virtual directory/File Name? Parameters

Example http://www.halaeducation.com/Mybook/Bo

ok.htm?name=me&password=allowed Ampersand – & used to separate multiple

parameters = sign is used separate the parameter

from its value



TCP/IP A critically important Protocol TCP/IP stands for transmission control

protocol/Internet protocol It is a communication protocol which is used by

computers to communicate with each other over the internet

It is compatible with most modern operating systems, computer hardware and networking configurations

provides reliable delivery and is able to deliver packets efficiently

free and none proprietary protocol


3.4 Web Server definition and Primary Features

What a Server? A combination of computer hardware

and software Dedicated to serving files or data to

requesting client computers Clients are typically connected to it over a

network link Known types

File, database, transactions and Web servers


3.4 Web Server definition and Primary Features

What is a Web Server? Essentially a Web server runs a software

suite (program) that enables it to accomplish a number of tasks

Serving Web contents to requesting browsers. Providing security to Web contents and the

associated Web site. Facilitating server administration and

management. Providing proxy capabilities. Supporting data-driven Web sites

(Interactivity)


3.5 Data Structuring Technologies

Data Structuring Technologies Within the domain of e business there

exist two important document structuring languages or authoring tools - technologies

HTML and the XML



Hyper Text Markup Language – HTML Hyper text markup language is a data

structuring tool that is primarily used to create Web contents

Web browsers are typically the software medium which is used to display HTML based documents

An HTML document would typically contain various predefined tags

Tags examples <p> defines a paragraph, <h1> defines a

headline, <img> define an image



Extensible Markup Language – XML standard and none proprietary programming

language used for documents structuring Employ tags for structuring documents XML tags are defined by the document’s

creator and they are not predefined XML tags are created in a manner that

describe and give meaning to the tag’s contents



Extensible Markup Language – XML Example

<Mobile No> 0433222445 </ Mobile No>

XML documents Key advantage Can be shared and processed by computer

applications that do not have to be running the same operating systems or similar software applications


3.6 Interoperability Technologies - Web Services

What Are Web Services? computer programs or software

modules Accessed remotely over the Internet by

generic browsers or software clients Generic browsers or software clients are

resident in another computer



Web Services Key Benefits Interoperability

provide seamless interoperability between various computer applications running in different platforms and supported by differing operating systems

disparate computers can talk to each other without the need for costly and time consuming investment in middleware



Web Services Key Benefits Minimal investment

Utilization of Internet infrastructure and none proprietary technologies

Standard Technologies Communication protocols, browsing

technologies, document structuring, etc… Simple to use and integrate

Web services could be called upon either from an Internet browser or integration within a client software application using XML and SOAP



Web Services Underpinning Technologies

Extensible Markup Language (XML) Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) Universal Description, Discovery and

Integration (UDDI) Web Services Description Language

(WSDL)



Web Services Issues of Concerns – Disadvantages Security

All aspects of Internet based information exchange security challenge arise

Reliability and Availability As a consumer always dependant on the

provider of such Web services No control on availability or lack of it


3.7 Virtual Private Network (VPN)

What is a virtual private network? The ability of a computer or a computer

which is connected to a private network to securely accesses another private network over a public network such as the Internet



The Strategic Business value of Virtual Private Networks A VPN offer the option to conduct secure, reliable, global

and cost effective business information exchange over the Internet and wireless wide area networks

enables employees of an organization located in remote offices to connect and access their organization cooperate network

eliminates the need for having costly infrastructure Provides businesses with the ability to provide flexible

working practices and support business mobility mobile workers ability to access cooperate network

A business can collaborate with partners over the Internet



Internet Security Technologies - Virtual Private Network Tunneling and Protocols VPN provide security and privacy through the use of

VPN tunneling, encryption and firewall authentication

VPN tunneling basically involves establishing and maintaining a logical network connection

The tunnel is then used to transmit encrypted data between a client and a server using specific VPN protocol format

Three protocols are designed to work with VPN tunneling

Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) [24


3.8 Business Mobility Technologies

What is Wireless Local Area Network – WLAN ? A local area network Does not use cables or wires in order

for a client computer to connect to it Uses radio waves to transmit and

receive data Short distance communication



WLAN Communication Standards Typically based on the IEEE 802.11 series of

standards - known as Wi-Fi The standards generally distinguished from

one another They operate on different bands, have a

different data transfer rates and transmission range

Three standards exist 802.11a - 5 Ghz, 54 Mbps, 60-120 feet 802.11b - 2.4 GHz, 11 Mbps, up to 300 feet 802.11g - 2.4 GHz54, Mbps, 65-120 feet



WLAN Devices or Components Two basic WLAN components

Access points (APs) Wireless network card



Wi-Fi Hot Spots Basically wireless local area networks Provide public access to the Internet Access either paid or unpaid Likely to come across in a public place such as

airports lounges, hotels, cafes, universities, etc.. People with mobile devices that are fitted with Wi-Fi

cards can connect to Wi-Fi hot spot service Mobile devices are able to locate the nearest

service to them and connect to it Hot spots services are published in various

directories



What is a wireless Wide Area Network – WWAN ? Basically a network that is capable of

delivering data connectivity over a wide spread geographical area without the need for cabling

Employs cellular network technologies, radio, satellite and mobile phone technologies


3.9 Interactivity Technologies - Data-Driven Dynamic Web Sites

What are Data-Driven Dynamic Web Sites? One that is able to interact with its user

and deliver contents dynamically Typically contents stored in a database Internet banking, online hotel & airlines

reservation, shopping online – are typical examples



Data-Driven Dynamic Web Sites Technologies Overview A number of Internet technologies deliver

dynamic contents Also known as processing technologies or

scripting languages Three widely used technologies

Php and ASP .net Server based All processing performed at server side and not

the client side



Data-Driven Dynamic Web Sites Technologies Overview

Ajax A combination of technologies which

include HTML , CSS, Javascript, DOM and XMLHttpRequest

Client side processing Other technologies exist

Python and Ruby



Advantages of Processing Web Contents Requests at the Server Side Dynamic Web pages contains code as well as

script (programming code) Processing takes place at the server side Server process the Web page and associated

script The server returns html to browser for display

but not the code Above combination of features results in

advantages Saving in bandwidth providing code security


3.10 The php Processing Technology

PHP Overview A Php files ends with the .php

extension for distinction Php code is embedded within the

html of the Web page Php statements are enclosed

between angle brackets and distinguished by starting and ending with ?


3.10 The php Processing Technology

Php example <html> <body> <center> <?php print "Welcome", $mytitle, $myname; ?> </center> </body> </html> This page returns a Welcome message with a

name and a title as entered by the person interacting with the page

Typically name and title would be entered via a Web form


3.11 The ASP .Net Processing Engine

What is ASP .NET? ASP .NET stands for active server pages .NET Proprietary technology Key features

Code behind HTML is separated from the scripting code Enhances maintenance and coding upgrade

Server side Web controls ASP .NET provides various categories of server-

side Web controls ready for use by developers Text boxes, drop down lists, labels, etc..


3.11 The ASP .Net Processing Engine

Key features Objects

Various predefined and tested objects – Minimize development and testing time

Three main objects Response object

Interaction with user Request object

Collects data from users Session object

Maintain interactivity between pages requests Data Access

Facilities data access and storage ADO .net – key component


Chapter 3 Knowledge Enhancement and Consolidation Tools and Exercises

Visit the book’s Web site www.halaeducation.com & select module 3

Perform Chapter 1 associated demo and case study through their respective demo and case Studies Links


Chapter 3 Problems Solving Skills Development


Perform Chapter 1 associated skills development through their respective skills development exercises link


Chapter 3 Balancing Knowledge to Practice


Perform Chapter 1 associated Balancing Knowledge to Practice project through its respective Hands on Project Link

Date post:	28-Dec-2015
Category:	Documents
Upload:	bartholomew-dawson
View:	214 times
Download:	0 times

Information systems and management in business Dr Ali H Higgi Information systems and management in...

Documents