 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
| An applet is a Java program that is
loaded, executed and displayed by a Web browser application. Applets are
often of modest size and complexity, to minimize the download times for
users with low-bandwidth connections. However, when Web browsers are enhanced
with the support of a Java plug-in, larger and more complex applications
may be developed. This is possible because the Java plug-in makes it possible
to cache the applet class files on the client machine – thus minimizing
load times for the applet subsequent to the initial load. The Java plug-in
also makes it possible for applets to execute outside of the low-headroom
memory constraints imposed by the browser applications. This allows the
applet designer to develop larger and more fully featured applets. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Application Distribution and Management
is based on an infrastructure which allows application data or executables
to be automatically installed and/or updated across the Enterprise network.
OMIX was an early adopter in integrating technologies from our partners
Marimba and BEA Systems (originally WebLogic) to embed Application Distribution
and Management infrastructures within our e-Business solutions. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Application Servers are the heart
of modern industrial-grade Internet, intranet and extranet architectures.
Standards-compliant Application Servers support the Java 2 Enterprise Edition
(J2EE) standard and serve as containers that support the construction of
software architectures in which the presentation layer (implemented as Java
Server Pages --JSP) is separated from the business logic (implemented with
Enterprise JavaBeans – EJB). This layered approach to the design of
complex transaction systems is essential in creating systems that are scalable,
reliable and relatively easy to maintain. This approach also makes it possible
to develop reusable software components, and supports the creation of systems
that are capable of sharing business logic while delivering different presentations
to different devices or points of access. Modern Application Servers also
support connectivity services to Legacy systems, databases and, through
XML interchange, to the broader diversity of network based transaction peers.
An application written to run on an Application Server can be easily ported
between hosting environments. In this way, as the application transaction
volume grows, the baseline code can be migrated to higher performance systems.
OMIX was a very early adopter of Application Servers, and has been integrating
BEA’s industry-leading WebLogic™ Application Server longer than
any other integrator. OMIX has selected the WebLogic™ server as our
preferred app server environment because of BEA's ongoing commitment to
being first to market in supporting emerging standards, and because the
clustering abilities of this server make it possible to create solutions
that scale gracefully. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Business logic is comprised of the
rules and algorithms used to create the behavior of a business application.
For example, in the case of an auction site, each auction has specific rules
about what constitutes a legal bid, the order in which bids are processed,
and the timing of how the auction is opened and closed. All of these rules
would be implemented as the business logic for the auction application. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| These features allow a company to
communicate effectively with users, and can be used to promote user involvement
on the Web site. Chat functionality allows users to execute a real-time
typed conversation with other users or site administrators. In order to
enhance and streamline customer service, some sites have integrated Chat
functionality into the "Help Desk" portion of their presence.
Bulletin Boards allow users to post their input about a particular topic
of discussion, which can later be reviewed by another user. This feature
is similar to Chat functionality in that it allows users to converse with
and advise one another. However, because Bulletin Board conversations do
not occur real-time, they are easier to monitor and less expensive to develop
than Chat functionality. The award-winning Doonesbury site, which OMIX built
in 1995, marked the beginning of OMIX’s experience in working with
these community-boosting technologies. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| When an application requires a highly
interactive user interface, it may be appropriate to deliver the application
outside of the browser environment, on the client side. In these circumstances,
we work with our clients to develop a fully featured, network-aware client-side
application. It is often appropriate to install and deliver these applications
using an Application Distribution and Management infrastructure. For each
project that we undertake, we assist our clients in selecting the most appropriate
technology set. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| The term "Content Management
System" (CMS) describes the software that allows businesses to manage
and update their business documents. Industrial-strength CMS systems integrate
workflow management with a document repository. OMIX has acquired extensive
experience in integrating these systems with our Web-based solutions, having
developed particular capabilities for integrating solutions from our partners
Documentum (CMS) and BEA Systems (WebLogic™ App Server). In Content
Management Systems, managed content can include text regions, graphic elements
and multimedia elements such as streaming media. We use these technologies
to create solutions that provide end-users with a seamless transition experience
in moving between content that is under CMS control to content that is managed
by the Commerce system. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| A Database is a software application
that saves information so that it can be retrieved in the future. Given
our strong emphasis on building transaction systems, virtually every system
that we create involves one or more embedded databases. Databases are used
whenever it is necessary to save transaction or user state information.
OMIX has traditionally turned to our technology partners – Oracle,
Informix, Sybase and PointBase – for the third-party database servers
that we embed into the solutions that we create. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) are generally
used to implement the business logic within a J2EE-compliant application.
The EJB application layer is responsible for maintaining transactional integrity,
and may also provide ancillary services such as communications with remote
systems. OMIX has been building J2EE-compliant applications since the WebLogic™
Application Server first supported these services in 1998. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| An extranet is a network connection
between two or more organizations or geographically separate parts of the
same organization. Extranets are often established between business partners
through private networks or VPNs. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| A firewall is a security device used
to control access between at least two connected networks. Firewalls are
most commonly used by businesses to allow their internal staff to access
resources out on the public Internet, while preventing access by outside
intruders from the Internet to their internal protected network assets. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| May refer to a set of technologies
or a class of applications that are associated with the public Internet.
Internet technologies are technologies that were originally developed for
the public Internet, but may be used in other environments – for example,
a Web server used inside a corporation is an Internet technology being applied
to an intranet. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| An intranet is a network that is accessible
primarily within an organization. Intranets are generally private internal
networks that are protected (usually by firewalls) from access by others
outside the organization. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Sun Microsystems defined the Java
2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) standard as a software architecture used to
construct multi-tiered transaction systems. J2EE systems generally run in
an Application Server environment that is compliant with the J2EE standard
specification. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Java Foundation Classes were released
by Sun to extend the original Java Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT) graphical
user interface architecture. The Swing component set was core to the JFC
release. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| A Java Plug-in is a Web browser extension
developed by Sun Microsystems that may be painlessly downloaded and installed
to enhance the performance of Java applets when used by the browser. A Java
Plug-in supports the use of a Java Runtime Environment that exists outside
the confines of the built-in browser Java environment. This makes it possible
to run applets that are significantly larger than those that must be run
within the browser address space. It also allows browser owners to take
advantage of advances in Java runtime technology as they occur, without
waiting for the browser manufacturers to release a new browser version. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Java Server Pages are generally used
to implement the presentation logic within a J2EE-compliant application.
The JSP layer is responsible for creating the dynamic HTML that is delivered
to the Web browser. It accomplishes this by making method calls to the business
logic EJB Beans. By using this approach, it is possible to produce parallel
JSP bundles that offer a different presentation depending upon the accessing
device or site point of entry. Also, this approach permits localized changes
to either the presentation or business logic – resulting in code that
is much easier to understand and maintain. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Java Swing set is a collection
of graphical user interface (GUI) components used to build modern application
user interfaces. The Swing component set features a pluggable look and feel
– meaning that the look and feel of the application interface can be
altered through a simple configuration setting to emulate the look and feel
of different operating system platforms (e.g. Microsoft Windows, Sun Solaris,
Apple Macintosh). The Swing set consists of a collection of low-level user
interface components (buttons, scrollbars, labels, etc.), plus a rich set
of higher-level components (such as tree views, list boxes, and tabbed panes). |
|
|
 |
|
|
| A Legacy system refers to the existing
mainframe, minicomputer, client/server or PC applications that are used
to manage business functions, but were deployed before Internet-based architectures
became the prevailing paradigm. Most Internet, intranet, and extranet applications
have been developed to run in today's Windows NT or UNIX environments. However,
it is becoming increasingly necessary to transport data between the new
breed of applications based on Internet technologies and existing Legacy
systems. For example, it is often necessary to interconnect a B2B system
with the client's existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. OMIX
has significant experience in providing Legacy system integration services
for our e-Business clients. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Newsletters are usually sent via email
to a site’s targeted audience. Newsletters can be automated to present
personalized information that matches predetermined user preferences, which
has been identified through previous interactions with the user. Many of
the systems that we have created incorporate this capability. Our clients
have discovered that sending targeted Newsletters is a relatively simple
and cost-effective way to encourage repeat business on a site. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| In recent years, OMIX has developed
a series of auction systems for our clients. These systems have been used
to conduct a wide variety of types of auctions – selling everything
from merchandise items with complex attribute sets (e.g., used cars) to
commodities delivered over time (e.g., a year’s supply of natural gas
to Ford Motor Company assembly plants). To facilitate the development of
these systems, OMIX has developed a set of reusable OMIX Auction Components™
based on the J2EE architecture. Using this component set, our design engineers
can create auctions that support arbitrarily complex item definitions and
auction rules. Utilizing this framework vastly reduces the time (and associated
costs) required to design and develop these systems. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
OMIX has been building e-Commerce systems since our inception in 1994.
Over the years, we have adopted emerging technologies to make our systems
more scalable and standards compliant. The current OMIX e-Commerce Infrastructure™
is our fourth generation in this evolutionary series. It is based upon
a J2EE component set, and effectively separates the business logic from
the site presentation logic. This allows us to construct sites that differ
in content presentation, but retain a similar underlying business logic,
thereby significantly reducing development costs and time to market. This
infrastructure includes the following capabilities:
- dynamically extensible product catalog
- dynamically extensible set of product attributes
- support for product collections
- multiple language and currency representation
- support for persistent shopping cart
- membership or anonymous user accounts
- automated order confirmation e-mail
- user account order status with shipper tracking links
- support for multiple shipping addresses in a single order
- automated credit card validation and transaction clearing
- dynamic product availability based on fulfillment inventory levels
- order processing to fulfillment center
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| The OMIX Proximity Engine™ is
a software component that supports a set of methods relating to ZIP codes
and geography. For example, this component may be used to determine a list
of ZIP codes that are within a given radius (in miles) of a single specified
ZIP code (e.g., give me a list of all ZIP codes that are within 50 miles
of 94025). It also may be used to determine the distance between a pair
of ZIP codes, or to return the name of the city and state associated with
a specific ZIP code. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Personalization refers to functionality
that allows systems to speak directly to their users by identifying the
user upon site arrival. Personalization functionality enables a site to
present information specifically targeted toward the user’s predetermined
preferences, based on past interactions with that user. For example, an
industrial buyer that has previously purchased energy on a Web site can
be presented with relevant energy market indices upon re-entry to the site.
A customer who has previously purchased children’s items can be presented
with the latest children’s product promotion. Because Personalization
targets site visitors’ purchasing preferences, it often pays for itself
many times over by increasing sales. OMIX has implemented Personalization
features on a multitude of its e-Commerce and Business-to-Business sites. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Internet firewalls and encryption
systems support the protection of sensitive data while it is in transit
on the public Internet and while it resides on private corporate networks.
Security is a primary concern for any Internet, intranet, or extranet application.
The experience that OMIX engineers bring from their work in the financial
industry is of vital importance in creating world class security systems
to protect the assets of OMIX clients. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Software Standards emerge from the
cooperation of many vendors to create a common definition for an emerging
technology. Standards can be used as building blocks to design solid, industrial-grade
application architectures. By using Software Standards, companies can leverage
technologies from multiple suppliers, rather than being single-sourced.
By utilizing standards that are widely embraced (such as Java), companies
are also assured that they will be able to find technical resources to support
and extend the implementation. OMIX has been a long-time advocate of Software
Standards, benefiting many clients by designing architectures that endure
and serve as platforms for future growth. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Streaming Media Servers are the software
systems that enable end-users to view video and hear audio content across
networks. When businesses plan to include Streaming Media Video Servers
in the system architecture of their Web systems, they must consider many
trade-offs in order to maximize video quality while avoiding network bottlenecks.
Integrating a Streaming Audio Server requires less expensive multimedia
production, and is less bandwidth intensive than video. OMIX creative staff
has extensive experience in the television industry and is consequently
quite familiar with the production issues involved in producing professional
quality multimedia presentations. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Supply Chain Management coordinates
purchasing and supply functions between two or more companies. As the Business-to-Business
marketplace has evolved,Supply Chain Management integration is now often
at the heart of B2B applications. Although Supply Chain Management software
receives a great deal of attention, the greatest challenge in the Supply
Chain Management integration process usually involves the integration of
the pre-existing Legacy systems maintained by the various companies, each
retaining its own order and inventory processing system. For example, when
a large company dictates a supply chain process to its vendors, each vendor
must perform the required Legacy integration. Some vendors accomplish this
by hiring additional internal resources with the necessary skill sets, while
others outsource the integration task to an experienced Internet professional
service firm such as OMIX. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Third party software refers to any
application or set of software components that derive from an outside source.
Many e-Business systems require the incorporation of third party packages.
OMIX has extensive experience integrating a wide variety of third party
software. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| User interface describes that part
of a software application that the user sees and with which the user interacts.
Conventional modern user interfaces for a window-based operating system
include menus, toolbars, radio buttons, checkboxes, list boxes, etc. An
application's user interface is comprised of a mix of these elements. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is
an encrypted point-to-point channel that is set up between two network endpoints.
VPNs are commonly established between corporate firewalls to construct private,
encrypted channels across the public Internet. VPNs allow users to transparently
access computers on the remote network segment as though they were on the
user's local network. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Web applications run inside a browser
application. The primary advantage of Web applications is that browsers
are ubiquitous delivery containers. The disadvantage of Web applications
is that user interactivity is limited by the HTML-based "present a
form / submit a form" paradigm. OMIX works with each of our clients
to determine the delivery approach that best addresses the specific requirements
of their application. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Web servers and servlet engines are
at the heart of many Internet/intranet/extranet applications, serving Web
pages to the accessing networks. In designing a Web delivery system, we
partition our architectures such that servers are optimized for their specific
functions. Web servers typically deliver static content, while passing dynamic
content requests to servlet engines that support the JSP presentation logic.
The JSP layer, in turn, may make method calls to the EJB business logic
layer. This software layering approach facilitates efficient modification
of a single layer, while retaining the other layers, thus simplifying application
maintenance. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is
a language used to store structured data and to pass it between network
hosts. The syntax of XML is similar to HTML, in that it contains matching
sets of tags, but - unlike HTML - it includes provisions for an extensible
set of tags. The specific tag definitions that will be used by an application
set are determined in advance and are utilized by both of the communicating
applications. XML is an ideal way to enable efficient communication between
commerce sites, fulfillment houses, extranet partners, and other systems
based on modern Internet architectures. OMIX has extensive experience in
utilizing XML for inter-application data exchange. |
|
|
 |
|
|
| The Zero Administration Client (ZAC)
is a part of the BEA Systems Weblogic™ Application Server that is used
for client-side application delivery and management. The ZAC allows applications
to automatically update themselves whenever a new version is placed on the
server for distribution. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|