ebXML Technologies

ebXML Technologies

ebXML is inclusive of small and large businesses.

Electronic Business XML is based on a set of building blocks that makes use of existing standards wherever possible

When ZwiftBooks has registered its CPP, other companies can query the ebXML repository to determine compatibility.

If the potential partner determines that partnering is feasible, negotiation can proceed based on conformance to the CPPs.

While it may be ideal to have all this occur automatically online, the reality of partnering will likely involve person-to-person interaction before final deals are signed. Once agreement has been reached, the two companies can begin doing business and engaging in transaction

Registry: A central server that stores a variety of data necessary to make ebXML work.

Business Processes: Activities that a business can engage in and for which it would generally want one or more partners. A Business Process is formally described by the Business Process Specification Schema (a World Wide Web Consortium [W3C] XML Schema and also a document type definition), but may also be modeled in UML.

Collaboration Protocol Profile (CPP): A profile filed with a registry by a business wishing to engage in ebXML transactions. The CPP will specify some Business Processes of the business, as well as some Business Service Interfaces it supports.s

Business Service Interface: The ways that a business is able to carry out the transactions necessary in its Business Processes. The Business Service Interface also includes the kinds of Business Messages the business supports and the protocols over which these messages might travel.

Business Messages: The actual information communicated as part of a business transaction. A message contains multiple layers. At the outside layer, an actual communication protocol must be used, such as HTTP or SMTP. SOAP is an ebXML recommendation as an envelope for a message payload. Other layers may deal with encryption or authentication.

Core Library: A set of standard parts that may be used in larger ebXML elements. For example, Core Processes may be referenced by Business Processes. The Core Library is contributed by the ebXML initiative itself, while larger elements may be contributed by specific industries or businesses.

Collaboration Protocol Agreement (CPA): In essence, a contract between two or more businesses that can be derived automatically from the CPPs of the respective companies. If a CPP says "I can do X," a CPA says "We will do X together.“

SOAP: The W3C protocol for exchange of information in a distributed environment endorsed by the ebXML initiative. Of interest for ebXML is SOAP's function as an envelope that defines a framework for describing what is in a message and how to process it.