enabling the semantic web: an ecommerce platform for planning and configuration of complex products...
TRANSCRIPT
Enabling the Semantic Web:
An ECommerce Platform
for Planning and Configuration of
Complex Products and Services
H. Schweppe, Freie Universität BerlinComputer Science Institute
J. Nicklisch-Franken, Persist AGTeltow, Germany
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Scenario A: How to publish a book?Scenario A: How to publish a book?
Publishing of a book is an arduous task because of...Many different activities The Web: Unbundling and disintegration of publishing and library servicesTime and cost restrictionsPlanning and coordination needs
The Internet
eJournalEditor
RetrievalService
Lector
Bank
ProofReader
AdvertisingService
CatalogueService
Broker
EvaluationSerivce
DigitalLibrary
PrintShop
Archive
Author
Publisher
Reader
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Scenario B: How to configure your Scenario B: How to configure your computercomputer
The InternetSpecial graphics
card manual.
HW Manu-facturer A
Bank
Internetprovider
Service
ASP
ASP
Product test results
Infos
Softwaredistributor
Configuring 200 PCs for your company in an optimal way is demanding: Different manufacturers
offer different components
Application Service Providers may be a substitute for expensive Software
Conflicting requirements: cheap bundles vs demands for specific Hardware.
Time and cost restrictions
Planning and coordination needs
HW manu-facturer B
Securityconsulta
nt
Catalogue service
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Common issuesCommon issues
Composition of products and/or services from individual components
Different independent, net-based resources have to be utilized
Constraints on budget,
time,
other resources and parameters (like quality)
Conflicting goals may arise
Complex planning and configuration tasks
Combination of planning and acting
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Example: rules and actions Example: rules and actions
available(pc) <- available(RAM,64MB,_),available(RAM,64MB,_),available(gcard,NVIDIA,1),available(assembly),...
%% availability of a personal computer: if its components %% are available and the service to mount them.
do_search(RAM, minQuantity,_, availability) <- not (onStock(RAM, quantity)). %% effect: set of facts (i.e. potential suppliers%% who could supply RAM within the given %% constraints on quantity and availability)
send_order(RAM, quantity, supplier,timeOfDelivery) <- available (RAM, quantity, supplier), cheapest(RAM, supplier), needed(RAM, quantity, targetProd). %% execution of an action
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What is different... What is different...
... from ‘legacy’ configuration and planning?
Richness of resources on the Web
Immediate availability of information about resources and
services
Heterogenous resources demand flexibility
Intelligent search needed for filtering of components
relevant for configuration step
Inherent distribution of schemas, rules and processing
Semantic Web Standards (XML / RDF based description)
Standards for description of products and product
composition
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What is different ...What is different ...
... from standard ECommerce platforms?Not just acting, but acting together with planning and configuring
Acting: select a product, buy it, chargePlanning and Configuration: compute a set of alternative plans, before Acting. Eg. if individual components and services have to be composed.
Explicit, declarative knowledge (Not just Java)Oriented towards complex business-to-business transactions with
Different time-scale e.g. publishing a book may need months rather than minutesMore sophisticated goods with options and alternativescould be services ("publish a book" not just selling one !) or systems (cars, computers, and all kinds of machinery)
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Remote Data Access
Applicationspecific search
SchemaManagement
LocalRepository
...
Data Access and Management
Planning
Resource Oriented Inference
Constraint SolvingConfiguration
Schema Library
GUI FrameworksInterfaces
SimulationWorkflow ...
Application Adaptors
... Applications....
Business Rules in middle tier
LayersLayers
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GoalsGoals
Set up a prototype system within 2 years
Demonstrate feasibility of a sophisticated ECommerce platform with planning / configuration capabilities utilizing knowledge structures of the Semantic Web
Interface the system with commercial platforms having a different focus (e.g. BizTalk / MS)
Gain experience in a real-world-application
Second phase: Transform the platform into a product
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Joint ProjectJoint Project
Partners
Persist AG , Teltow, D
Freie Universtät Berlin, D
Companies / groups from other European countries have signaled their interest
More partners from industry and research welcome !
All areas mentioned:
Applications and application adaptation
Schema and interface development
Inference and Data access layers
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To DoTo Do
Potential partners should make a contact with us today / tomorrow ...... or send Email to [email protected] | [email protected]
They should send in a draft proposal on the task they want to fulfill within the framework presented
Deadline is Dec 15 Workshop for final preparation of proposal
mid January 2001 in Berlin / Teltow
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Persist AG Telefon: 0049 (0) 3328 / 3477 - 0 Vorstand: Jürgen Nicklisch-Franken
Deutschland Telefax: 0049 (0) 3328 / 3477 - 29 AR-Vors.: Dieter Brandenburger
Rheinstr. 7c Email: [email protected] Registergericht Potsdam HRB 12318
D-14513 Teltow WWW: www.persistag.com USt.-IdNr. DE 812 629 024