Managing business lifecycle using ebIOP

In this paper, we describe how ebIOP (an ebXML compliant B2B interoperability platform) manages the business lifecycle by providing an example scenario. ebIOP provides a common storage for ebIOP components (ebXML applications). ebIOP defines an ebIOP component to be a software implementation of one or more ebXML specifications which is a solution of an e-commerce pattern (description of an e-commerce problem). ebIOP contains a server that listens to a port over the TCP/IP protocol for client requests and provides one or more ebIOP components to interact with the partners of the company. We show how ebIOP could be used to handle the business lifecycle with application of the ebIOP to the RosettaNet partner interface processes (PIPS). In the example, a part of the RosettaNet PIPS are registered to an ebXML registry using the ebIOP Registry Client Component, parties that support RosettaNet PIPS register/update their profiles in the ebXML registry. A party prepares an ebXML business process by combining some of the RosettaNet PIPS in a logical order and searches for possible trading partners using the ebIOP Registry Client Component. After locating the trading partners, all partners prepare agreements among themselves and they execute the business process using the ebIOP B2BServer Component. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.