PilotFish Technology XCS eiPlatform

The XCS Enterprise Integration Platform (XCS eiPlatform) is a complete Java framework that leverages application server technology, web services and industry XML standards to enable the deployment of internal and external system interfaces better, faster, and less expensively than ever before possible.

Virtually any system can be interfaced with any other system or systems regardless of platform, operating system, database, or communications protocol.

How it Works

In the sample interface depicted in the diagram above, the transaction traversing the XCS eiPlatform moves through five distinct stages:

The Listener component "listens" for information available from the Source system. A comprehensive list of Listeners is supported including: Database SQL, Directory, Document Style Web Service, Email (POP3), FTP, FTP Over SSL (Implicit and Explicit), HTTP Form/Post, HTTP Post, JMS, MSMQ, Programmable, RMI, SOAP Web Service, and WebSphere MQ. Custom Listeners may also be added through the use of the XCS eiPlatform Extension Interface.

After a Listener has received a transaction, but before it is passed to the next stage, the transaction can be passed to a sequence of Processors. A Processor is a modular component that is capable of performing various operations such as: Decryption, Decompression, EBCDIC/ASCII conversion, MIME Multi-part Processing, SOAP Unwrap, Validation, and many, many more.

The Transform component transforms the data from the proprietary format of the Source system into an industry standard or common (canonical) format. All of the popular XML standards are supported. Companies can also define their own "common model", extend an existing one, or use a hybrid representing a combination of standards.

The Router Component routes the data to the target system or systems using a routing rules engine. The Router component also captures and reports transaction detail, audit information and errors.

A second Transform component transforms the data from the industry-standard XML format to the format(s) of the Target system or systems.

A second Processor may be configured to perform operations to prepare the data for transport to the target system.

The Transport component is responsible for the delivery of the data to the Target system or systems in the exact format, transport and encryption method required. Transports include Database SQL, Directory Drop, Document Style Web Service, Email (SMTP), FTP, FTP Over SSL (Implicit and Explicit), HTTP Form/Post, HTTP Post, JMS, MSMQ, Programmable, RMI, SOAP Web Service, and WebSphere MQ. Custom Transports may also be added through the use of the XCS eiPlatform Extension Interface.

A single interface deployed to the XCS eiPlatform Java framework can have as many source systems and target systems as required. Additionally, an unlimited number of interfaces can be deployed to a single instance of the XCS eiPlatform.

Technical Considerations and Support

All of the components that comprise the XCS eiPlatform framework are written in Java. The XCS eiPlatform is compatible with all of the popular application servers, operating systems, and platforms, so it is certain to work within your IT infrastructure. All of the components are easily configurable and extensible through open APIs.

Your staff can quickly assume responsibility for building, managing and maintaining all of your company's interfaces. Ongoing support from PilotFish Technology is always available, but is by no means a requirement.

Specific benefits to be realized by implementing the XCS eiPlatform include:

• Dramatically lowering the total number of interfaces required between internal and external business applications by implementing a many-to-one and one-to-many (common model integration) method of managing interfaces.

• Rationalizing the myriad of data formats, communication protocols, programming languages and encryption methods used, through transformation to a single common set of standards

• Facilitating the management and propagation of information to support mission-critical applications, customer relationship management and business acquisition

• Enabling the implementation of industry XML standards immediately, while still supporting the proprietary formats of internal and external applications and services