Software transforms POS data to IXRetail standard format.
Press Release Summary:
Serving as messaging hub for store, Data Integration Facility allows non-Java applications to communicate with message systems. It enables intra-store, point-to-point communication between applications; once-only assured delivery of data from store to enterprise; and responses to queries from remote systems. It also permits communication between legacy terminals and in-store devices using XML, SOAP, or WebSphere MQ Everyplace-based messaging.
Original Press Release:
IBM Data Integration Facility Transforms POS Data to IXRetail Standard Format
At a glance
The IBM Data Integration Facility, part of a store-level infrastructure, consists of a programmer's API and a runtime process. These tools enable the following kinds of messaging:
o Intra-store "point-to-point" communication between applications
o Once-only assured delivery of data from the store to the enterprise
o Responses to queries from remote systems, such as enterprise requests for store-based data
o Communication between legacy terminals and other in-store devices using XML, SOAP, or WebSphere MQ Everyplace-based messaging
IBM Data Integration Facility "opens up the store" by providing Java and non-Java applications (including CBASIC applications) easy-to-use interfaces for:
o Web services via HTTP
o Message-oriented middleware (WebSphere MQ Everyplace, and other JMS-enabled systems)
o Other applications that use the DI framework
Finally, IBM Data Integration Facility provides out-of-the-box support for transforming 4690 application data into standards-based XML. For example, transaction data (tlogs) can be converted from native binary format to IXRetail-standard POSLog XML documents. Transactions can "trickle" in real time from the store to host systems.
Overview
IBM Data Integration Facility is a Java(TM)-based background application that serves as a messaging hub for the store. It allows non-Java applications, such as CBASIC or C applications, to communicate with message systems like WebSphere® MQ Everyplace(TM) or with Web servers using SOAP messages.
Examples include:
o Integrating 4690 sales support/checkout support with WebSphere MQ Everyplace for trickling transaction data in real time
o Allowing a CBASIC terminal application to send requests to the IBM Data Integration Facility runtime over a 4690 pipe, which can be converted to XML or SOAP for communication with an application server
o IBM Data Integration Facility eases development of store-based applications that respond to external queries. For example, host systems can send queries via WebSphere MQ Everyplace messages to retrieve store-based data, such as data in 4690 keyed files.
Key prerequisites
Java 2 Standard Edition Runtime Environment (J2SE1.3.x, or later)
IBM 4690 OS V3R2 (5639-M77 with CSD 03C0) with 160MB Free Memory for IBM Data Integration Facility and messaging Runtimes
Supermarket (5696-536 with CSD M001), General Sales (5696-546 with CSD L001), or ACE V2 (5639-N74 with CSD 1) Application
For assured messaging to enterprise systems, including tlog trickle:
WebSphere MQ Everyplace (5724-C77 Version 2.0.0.5, or later)
Planned availability date
October 24, 2003
