RE: [ebxml-dev] ebXML specifications interdendancies

-----Original Message-----
From: Anarkat, Dipan [mailto:DAnarkat@uc-council.org]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 12:17 PM
To: ebxml-dev@lists.ebxml.org
Subject: [ebxml-dev] ebXML specifications interdendancies

" I am trying to assess the functional interdependancies b/w the diferent systems in the ebXML stack from an implementation standpoint, used in an e-business framework.

" As we know, the ebCPPA spec does specify how a CPA is negotiated between 2 trading partners.

DaleMoberg> Negotiation is currently being specified in the OASIS ebxml-cppa TC. There was no

normative definition at the CPPA 1.0 level. There was a lot of information about how to use CPA templates

or even to compose CPPs to arrive at CPAs, but you were on your own in exchanging these documents.

" I also understood from a couple of vendors that the CPA instance XML has to be loaded into the internal database (any form) of the MSH. It really doesnt matter how the CPA is negotiated or for that matter even if it is in XML form.

DaleMoberg> Typically for MSHes that support CPAs, importing a CPA and using it to populate the MSH's

configuration "database" would be an operation that would be done, obviously. Just how much of the information is

actually used might vary. Minimally you will need to get the URLs of the other side. You might pull out

other information.The software might then need to ask a user for some other information. You could pull

out certificates, trust anchors, signature formats and conventions, and a whole lot of stuff.

" All that is required is a conclusion representing the CPA that can be in any format, as long as it can be loaded into the internal database of the MSH as provided by the vendor.

DaleMoberg> If you are talking about what a MSH could get away with, it need not

That is, you could use property sheets or wizards or whatever to

let a user do the configuration. Most implementations will

have this capability unless they are telepathic. What importing a

to configure, what choices on security (etc) are forced on users,

how to get certificates loaded, and so on. The CPA and CPP are standardized

XML schemas used to define ways to exchange information expressed

in XML that is used for configuration. They also have signatures so

that you trust the information, and hooks to other potentially useful

" This means that an ebMS compliant MSH has also to be compliant with the ebCPPA. "

DaleMoberg> It means that an ebMS compliant MSH has to be configurable as a ebMS MSH.
Compliance with ebCPPA means that XML inputs or outputs conform to the schemas that

have been defined. Since the ebMS is not required to serialize its configuration information

in any format, it does not have to conform to the ebCPPA compliance clause. I think you

are trying to find some dependency here, when both groups have been reasonably careful

to explain how to use specifications together and separately. It would be far more useful

to consider what you gain and lose by not using certain ebXML modules rather than trying

to see how little you can get away with. You will have to configure the software somehow.

You can invest in automating the process for a community or you can let them struggle

" Also since the ebCPP and ebCPA instances identify the Business Processes in an ebBPSS instance, it means that the ebMS compliant MSH will also have to be compliant with the ebBPSS if it has perform the intended function of being able to validate and process ebMS TR&P messages . "

DaleMoberg> No. No real use needs to be made of the information about Business Processes, even if there

is a pointer to it. Otherwise, a dummy BPSS can be set up in 15 minutes or so if you really want to make

" This means that the ebMS TR&P cannot be used independantly for TR&P and forces you to use ebCPPA and ebBPSS. "

DaleMoberg> No. If a web page has links on it, does that mean you cannot view the page without clicking on the links?

You are really reaching here to find a dependency, when you should just be asking yourself: what is the value of

using this? Could there be some ROI if we used this? And so on. What is the point ot these questions really?

"As such, even though an agreement may not be required between trading partners , we still need a bare bones 'void agreement' .

Is my understanding right, or am I missing a point here !? "

Dipan Anarkat
EC Systems Analyst
Uniform Code Council, Inc.
Tel: (609)-620-4509
http://www.uc-council.org/

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