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Page 1Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Chapter 18Chapter 18
A Framework for Integrating Business A Framework for Integrating Business Applications Applications
Page 2Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
OverviewOverview
Motivation
Information Organizer
Practical Experiences
Page 3Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
MotivationMotivation
All information of importance is to be made available to different categories of users.
Containing information which must be reused.
Another method to access and interrelate associated information in different systems is called for.
Microsoft’s Active Directory: a tool for sharing information between different applications.
IEC1346, OMG, IT4
Aspects, Objects
Page 4Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Information OrganizerInformation Organizer
A product for integration of systems
Focuses on information systems
Introduces new concepts
Objects
Aspects
Reuse!
Page 5Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Introduction, cont.Introduction, cont.
Reuse of legacy systems
Data
Applications
Application patterns
Another possibility of reuse
Page 6Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Technical detailsTechnical details
Builds on Microsoft technologies
Windows 2000
COM
Active Directory
Security
Reuse again!
Page 7Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
ConceptsConcepts
Business Object Model
The conceptual model
Contains definitions of concepts
Information Organizer
The application
Business Object Framework
The implementation of Business Object Model in Information Organizer
Page 8Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Business Object ModelBusiness Object Model
The conceptual model
Introduces new concepts
Objects
Aspects
Relations
Roles
Views
Page 9Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
ObjectsObjects
The most central type of entity in the model
Objects model physical or logical objects
Represent entities in the applications to be integrated
E.g. “valve”, “pump”, “issue”, “workflow step”.
Little functionality in itself - related data is carried by its Aspects
ObjectAspect
Aspect Aspect
Aspect
Page 10Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
AspectsAspects
Contains part of the functionality of an object
Often contain documents of some kind
Are often associated with (legacy) applications
Can be added and removed dynamically
New types of aspects can be added when the system is ready to handle them
ObjectAspect
Aspect Aspect
Aspect
Page 11Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
RelationsRelations
Objects exist in relation to other objects
Typed or generic relations
Allow connection of objects with certain aspects
New types can be defined
Used to structure the objects
Trees
Arbitrary structures
Can be interpreted by a user or the system itself
Object Object
Page 12Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
RolesRoles
A certain function offered by an object
Implemented by aspects
Not very clear description
Page 13Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
ViewsViews
Limits the visibility
Objects, aspects, and relations
Different categories of users
Different information interesting depending on context
Possibility to switch views
The selected item still in focus
E.g. locate an issue in a personal view, then switch to workflow view
Can be added dynamically
Page 14Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Integration layer
Issue manage-ment system
Document manage-ment system
CAD system
Presentation layer
Data/application layer
Business Explorer
System-wide information model
Application specificuser inter-face
Page 15Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Business Object FrameworkBusiness Object Framework
The implementation of Business Object Model
The “core” of Information Organizer
Examples of tools and functions
Generic implementation of Aspects, Objects etc.
Configuration environment
Development environment
Runtime environment
Mechanisms for defining object and aspect types
Implement certain COM interfaces
Page 16Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Information OrganizerInformation Organizer
Conventional three-layered architecture
User interface layer (three types)
Business Logic layer (Business Object Framework)
Data layerApplications
Documents
Databases
Three types of user interfaces available
“Thin” client – standard browser
“Fat” client – installed code on client machines
“Ultra-thin” client – WAP client
Page 17Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Information Organizer, cont.Information Organizer, cont.
Page 18Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Application PatternsApplication Patterns
Generic implementations of commonly occurring patterns
Non-domain specific patterns
Three patterns are described
Business Process Support, “workflow”
Document Management Support
Relational Database Connector
Applied on Information Organizer level
No support needed from participating applications
Page 19Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Business Process SupportBusiness Process Support
Adding “workflow” concept to systems
Configuration
Runtime support
New object, aspect, and relation types
Processor
Process
Process Flow
Target
“Above” original application level
Page 20Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Business Process Support, cont.Business Process Support, cont.
Page 21Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Document Management SupportDocument Management Support
Creates documents “on the fly”
Uses templates
Inserts data from objects
Designed for Internet
Integrated with archive system
Page 22Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Relational Database ConnectorRelational Database Connector
A means of retrieving data from a standard database
Generic implementation
Builds on XML
Separates data from presentation
Each data row is represented by an object in BOF
Data still resides in the database
Security on row level
Page 23Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Relational Database Connector, cont.Relational Database Connector, cont.
Data
Description of data records
Information whether some data items are writeable
Presentation
Presentation format
Page 24Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Practical ExperiencesPractical Experiences
Component based development can be highly profitable.
A significant part of the development time was spent in learning the full capabilities and impacts of existing technologies and components.
Development of custom functions for the framework actually occupied a smaller part of the total project time.
One of the main reasons why verbal commitments to component-based development often fall short in practice.
Page 25Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
DS
BO
UI UI
Aspect
UI
Business
Data File
Word
UI
File
Web-Cam
UIRelationsPropertiesCamera
HelpChangeServicesDelete
DBFile
DS
BO
UI UI
Aspect
UIUI
Business
Data File
Note-pad
UI
dll
RelationsPropertiesMyServiceNotepadChangeServicesDelete
DS = Data StorageUI = User InterfaceBO = Business ObjectDll = Dynamic linked library
A three layered implementation architectureA three layered implementation architecture
Page 26Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
A
A
A
Step 1
Personal View
A TemplateActions
Step 2
BO
A
Step 3
BO
A
BO
A
A
Issue A Issue B
A BO
Process View
A BO
BO
BO
User 2
A BO
TemplateActions
TemplateActions
PerformedActions
PerformedActions
User 1
BO - instances of different business object typesA - instances of different aspect types
A workflow applicationA workflow application
Page 27Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
Practical Experiences – cont.Practical Experiences – cont.
Integrating modern, well-componentized applications is easy and straightforward
Integrating monolithic applications is difficult and cumbersome.
A Generic front-end “connector”to database provide 60 to 80 percent of the original application functionality.
Page 28Building Reliable Component-based Systems
Chapter 18 - A Framework for Integrating Business Applications
SummarySummary
Component-based approach
Reuse
Integration
Reuse of components not originally designed as reusable components
Reuse of application patterns
Level of integration can be chosen
Basic integration reusing the applications “as is”
Data level (using Relational Database Connector)
Implementation in COM
