architecture framework for ecommerce

explanation of 6 layers of architecture of ecommerce and their protocols

1. Architecture framework for ecommerce The ecommerce application architecture consists of 6 layers of functionality/ services. Application services Brokerage and data management Interface layer Secure messaging Middleware services Network infrastructure

2. 1. Application services This layer comprises of existing and future applications. Three distinct classes of ecommerce applications are: Consumer to business Business to consumer Intra organization

3. 2. Brokerage and data management This layer provides service integration through information brokerages. Information brokerages represents an intermediary who provides service integration between customers and information providers. An important aspect of the brokerage function is the support for data management.

4. 3. Interface and support services This layer provides interfaces for ecommerce applications such as interactive catalogs and functions necessary for information search via directories. Interactive catalogs are customized interface to customer applications like home shopping. Directories organize enormous amount of information and transactions generated to facilitate ecommerce.

5. 4. Secure messaging E-messaging is a critical business issue. Messaging is the software that sites between the network infrastructure and the clients or ecommerce applications. Messaging services offers solutions for communicating unstructured data, reports as well as structured data such as purchase orders, shipping notices, etc.

6. 5. Middleware services With the growth of networks, client server technology and all other forms of communicating between or among different platforms, the problems of getting all the pieces to work together grew. Users demanded interaction between dissimilar systems, networks that permitted shared resources and applications that could be accessed by multiple software programs. Middleware is the ultimate mediator between software programs that enables them to communicate with one another.

7. 6. Network infrastructure (www as a architecture) Client browser www server functions Third party services Local or company specific data Mosaic/ www browser Browser extensions Information retrieval Data and transaction management Secure messaging Digital library of document/ data servers Third party information processing tools/ services Electronic payment servers

8. A communication protocol is a formal description of digital message formats for exchanging those messages in or between computing systems. The internet protocol(IP) is the principle communications protocol used for datagram (packets) across an internet using the internet protocol suite. Security protocols

9. It is defined as “the capability for applications running on different computers to exchange information and operate cooperatively using this information. The OSI model defines a networking framework for implementing protocols in 7 layers: The seven layers are: Open Systems Interconnections model (OSI)

10. Application layer (layer 7): this layer supports application and end user processes. Everything at this layer is application specific. Presentation layer (layer 6): this layer provides independence from differences in data representation by translating from application to network format and vice versa. Session layer(layer 5): this layer establishes, manages and terminates connections between applications. It deals with sessions and connection coordination.

11. Transport layer (layer 4): this layer provides transfer of data between end systems, or hosts and is responsible for end-to-end error recovery and flow control. It ensures complete data transfer. Network layer (layer 3): this layer provides switching and routing technologies, creating logical paths known as virtual circuits fro transmitting data from node to node.

12. Data link layer( layer 2): in this layer, data packets are encoded and decoded into bits. This layer performs the transmission of data and error control from one node to another node. Physical layer (layer 1): this layer conveys the bit stream- electrical impulse, light or radio signal. It provides the hardware means of sending and receiving data on a carrier, including cables, cards and physical aspects.

13. TCP/IP TCP/IP is the communication protocol for communication between computers on the internet. TCP - transmission control protocol IP – internet protocol TCP takes care of communication between your application software (browser) and your network software. IP takes care of the communication with other computers.

14. IP address When a message is sent, an IP address for both the sending and receiving nodes must be known. The IP address are 32 bits(4 bytes length) in length, decomposition of the IP address varies according to the assigned class.

15. File transfer protocol (FTP) FTP is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP based network, such as internet. A popular method for uploading and downloading files is the file transfer protocol (FTP). FTP is common tool used for uploading web documents to a server.

16. HTTP- HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL The protocol that underlies the www is called the HTTP. It is a simple request/response protocol. When a user clicks on a link on a webpage, the connection is opened, data is transferred and the connection is broken. Secure HTTP This supports a variety of security mechanisms to HTTP clients and servers. It provides encryption techniques for secure conversation between client and server.

17. This is used in sending and receiving email. This protocol helps the user to save messages in a server mail box and download them from the server. Simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP)

18. Secure sockets layer (SSL) Electronic commerce applications Secure HTTP TCP based application protocol ( HTTP , SMTP..) Secure sockets layer (SSL) Internet protocol (IP)