OfficeSync Server Platform
| The OfficeSync Server Platform provides a generic abstraction layer between the OfficeSync Clients and the target Line of Business application. Using a set of mappings the Server Platform converts the Line of Business information from the structures exposed by the Line of Business system and a set of standardized structures which are consumed by the clients. The Server Platform uses an asynchronous processing model to handle the information exchange between the OfficeSync Clients and the target Line of Business system. This asynchronous processing provides a number of benefits including, but not limited to, providing a throttle for accessing the Line of Business system; shielding the client from any Line of Business outages; limiting the transaction time for Client data submissions; and automatically providing a log of all submissions to the line of business system. |
The Server Platform consists of the following components:
Management Database
The OfficeSync Management Database is the heart of the Knouen OfficeSync solution. All the configuration information is stored in the management database as well as the mappings between the OfficeSync item identifiers and the Line of Business system identifiers. The user item permissions are stored in this layer as well, controlling the items which are available to the users from their OfficeSync Client application. Since the management database stores all application states, it allows web service and process service components to be brought online and automatically join in the processing activities. This also provides a central point for application system recovery. Restoring a backup of the management database brings the application back to that point and the system can continue forward from that point.
Metadata Object Layer
The Metadata Object Layer allows the server components to access the metadata configuration and behave appropriately. This exposes the configuration as well as the mappings to the server components as well as the metadata which is used to control the user access to the system.
OfficeSync Web Services
The web services provide the single point of contact for all the OfficeSync clients. All information which is passed to and from the clients is routed through the web service. The web service controls the security layer for the clients as well, enforcing the access permissions to the system.
OfficeSync Processing Services
The processing services handle the interactions with the target line of business system. Using a set of individual service components the processing services monitor the line of business system for information additions and changes; submit client submissions into the line of business system; and build the mapping tables which control the user information access to the line of business data. Because the services are built to run generic service components they can be configured to perform virtually any activity needed to handle the line of business interactions.
Management and Configuration Application
The OfficeSync Management Application is used to both configure and manage the system. This application is used to set up the configuration and mappings between the Line of Business system and the OfficeSync metadata structures. It is also used to manage the application users, setting up users in the system as well as defining the security permissions for the users. Centralized error management is also provided by this application, giving application administrators the ability to view both client and server errors from a central location.