New Information Systems for the Network Age

Transcription

1 New Information Systems for the Network Age Utilizing Distributed Object Technology New Information Systems for the Network Age 232 Nobuyuki Oshima Isamu Kimura OVERVIEW: With the advent of Big Bang, deregulation, and mega competition, society and industry are in an age of drastic changes. In May 1996, Hitachi announced the basic concept for future information systems, FOREFRONT with Cyberspace, with such facilities as Internet and intranets, security solutions, and Hitachi Commerce Solution for this age of changes. FOREFRONT system outline is shown in Fig. 1. These solutions meet the needs for speedy strengthening of competitiveness and structural changes in corporations, public institutions, and society as a whole. These solutions also meet the needs for planning management strategies and for better customer service. In addition, in July 1997, Hitachi systematized the solution for interworking individual information systems effectively by incorporating distributed object technology into its Network Objectplaza product. Hitachi s goal is to develop an information system that allows corporate, public sector and household activities to be accomplished in a global network space. This article discusses demands on information systems for corporate activities and how information systems should evolve to support corporate activities. It also covers the goals, features, and effects of the new solution: Network Objectplaza. Using distributed object technology, Network Objectplaza allows efficient interworking among applications on different systems, such as mainframes and servers, to cope with the full-fledged network age of the future. INTRODUCTION IN this age of drastic changes, the financial and industrial worlds do not simply want information systems for efficient transactions within companies. They want a new information system that evolves by using new technologies. Business needs a system that supports corporate activities for value creation, boosts the speed of business, and allows planning management strategies and improving service through businesses associated directly with customers. The introduction of distributed object technology is effective for constructing highly reliable information systems that accommodate the ever-changing corporate environment and technological innovations; and supports not only corporate activities but also public and household activities. This effectiveness is achieved because distributed object technology interconnects applications on a variety of platforms. Distributed object technology has a strong affinity for the Internet. It can interwork with the resources of an existing mainframe for new tasks, facilitate changing or extending server systems, and ease the introduction of widely available application packages. Extensive utilization of distributed object technology is expected including applications for financial institutions facing deregulation, industries heading toward global standardization, and the public utility and power industry which need interworking of multivendor systems. The following sections describe the features and effective application examples of the Hitachi solution utilizing the distributed object technology Network Objectplaza. MARKET ENVIRONMENT, EXPECTATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS In this radically changing environment of society and industry including financial deregulation, relaxation of the regulatory environment, and the advent of severe competition the real challenge for firms is evolution toward becoming strong companies. At the same time, their hopes for information systems that have evolved in conjunction with the companies themselves are rising.

2 Hitachi Reviw Vol. 47 (1998), No FOREFRONT with Cyberspace Networked Computing Creation of a human and information-intensive society that permits global networking for corporate and public sector activities as well as household activities Data Transaction DB Enterprise server Security billing payment Data warehouse Data mining Parallel DB Information on-demand/ electronic newspaper/ electronic library Multimedea DB Media server Contents Document DB Internet/intranet (distributed object framework/security framework) Borderless collaboration Electronic community Electronic commerce Home office Telephone AP server Facsimile Groupware CTI LAN Electronic meetings Thin client WS/PC PDA Agent Handheld PC LAN Mobile computing Electronic public service Information Kiosk Java* Smart card CATV ISDN Satellite Consumer publishing Video on demand Home PC/ PC-TV Home office Home shopping Telemedicine Long distance learning Multimedia tools Enterprise Society Home * Java and all other Java-related trademarks and logos are a trademark or a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the US and other countries. Fig. 1 Information Systems Provided by Hitachi for the Network Age. Based on the concept FOREFRONT with Cyberspace, Hitachi s goal is to create information systems to implement a networked computing environment for corporations, public sector and the home. Network evolution Rapid progress of the Internet 100 million servers 1 billion users/year 2000 Rapid proliferation of PC Changing business environment Financial deregulation Relaxing of the regulatory environment Age of severe competition Problem with corporate information systems Interconnecting different systems is difficult. Connecting a new system to the existing system is difficult. There is a lack of skilled employees or sufficient information to tackle the restructuring of existing systems. Expectations and needs for corporate information systems <Expectations for information systems> Change from efficiency-enhancement systems to value-creation systems <Needs> Want to interconnect the systems within the company Want to interconnect to external systems and networks Connection with inter-company systems to extend business opportunities Connection with a consumer or public-service system Requirements for corporate information systems Can accommodate environmental changes quickly Can extend to a value-added service Constructing an information system utilizing distributed object technology Fig. 2 Expectations and Needs for Corporate Information Systems. As the business environment changes, expectations for information systems change from efficiency-enhancement systems to value-creation systems.

3 New Information Systems for the Network Age 234 Back bone system Use of existing system resources UNIX* server, etc. Corporate system system UNIX server Boosting the speed of system interconnection within a company WindowsNT** server Increased business opportunities through inter-company system interconnection Other company s system Internet/intranet-distributed object technology Improved customer service by interconnecting with consumers WindowsNT server Consumer and other societal activities UNIX server, etc. <Effect of using distributed object technology> Uses the existing system resources effectively (wrapping technology) Interconnects applications processing easily (common interface independent of hardware, operating systems, and language) Interconnection and use package application software Quick system development by objects-combination technology * UNIX is a registered trademark to which X/Open Company Limited has an exclusive license. ** Windows NT is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Fig. 3 Corporate Information System Using Distributed Object Technology. Using distributed object technology is effective because it allows constructing an information system which meets corporate needs in the era of changes. In past times of steady growth, information systems have been developed mainly for increasing business efficiency and labor saving within corporations. That is, information systems contributed to the progress of corporations in enhancing efficiency. However, in this age of changes and speed, supporting the evolution of new corporate activities is now de rigueur. In other words, value-creation information systems are being called for that provide for increased business speed, planning of management strategies, and extension of business opportunities for corporations to survive severe competition (Fig. 2). Specific needs for current information systems include improving and boosting the speed of business by interconnecting individual systems existing in the company, constructing systems linked to other companies to extend business opportunities, and setting up systems directly connected to consumers and public institutions to provide customer services superior to those provided by other competitors. However, it is difficult for the user to recreate a completely new system to meet the needs of these sophisticated information systems. The user rather wants to use and improve the existing backbone system or existing systems dispersed within the company, including the extensive and important management databases. When using and improving the existing system, though, the user inevitably confronts the difficulties in interconnecting different systems. Interconnection among existing systems, or among the existing systems and new systems or other companies systems, requires a huge amount of time and expenses because the connection method differs for each system connected. Distributed object technology solves all these problems. This technology is quite effective in accommodating business environmental changes quickly with its superior expandability in implementing new value-added systems or services. CORPORATE INFORMATION SYSTEMS OF THE FUTURE, AND DISTRIBUTED OBJECT TECHNOLOGY Effects of Using Distributed Object Technology Fig. 3 shows the effect of using distributed object technology for corporate information systems. Distributed object technology is indispensable to effectively meet the needs of the sophisticated information systems mentioned above. Hitachi proposes a scheme to construct systems by

4 Hitachi Reviw Vol. 47 (1998), No Fig. 4 Configuration of Network Objectplaza. Consists of six elements of software products and service system to support the construction of next-generation information systerms. Development environment Suites of products and services to construct and support next-generation corporate information systems Solution service framework System management Inter-system glue services Secure component integration framework Distributed object infrastructure CORBA Provides a total solution services from system introduction to system construction as well as per-application solutions Provides a framework of parts and construction know-how to ease and accelerate the information system construction Components that ease the operation and maintenance of information systems in a variety of system environments C++, COBOL, and Java language environment, development tools, and host analysis/design tools to construct information systems Components that ease the interconnection among different information systems(system interconnection tools, wrapping tools, etc.) Components that provide service such as ORB which is a framework of a CORBA-compliant distributed system interconnecting system-building objects (programs and data) through communications. This proposal is based on the international interface standard called CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) administered by the OMG (Object Management Group), an industry standardization body for distributed technology. A system that uses this technology can perform interfaced processing independent of hardware type, operating system, and the programming language of the application on the connected machine. In addition, by using wrapping technology, such a system can handle existing systems as objects. This significantly shortens the time required to construct and extend a system that interconnects different existing systems. In addition, this technology increases the utility value of the existing mainframes and other systems. A distributed object system uses the object-oriented development method that reuses program units called objects on a combined basis for application development. This allows the user to develop and change an application quickly. Overview and Features of Network Objectplaza Network Objectplaza systematizes distributed object technology-based products and services based on the distributed object technology and System Integration (SI) technology that Hitachi has developed through construction of large-scale backbone systems and alliances with other leading corporations. Specifically, it consists of six elements. They are five types of software products: a distributed object infrastructure, inter-system glue services, applications, development environment, system management, and a solution service that supports the construction of sophisticated distributed systems (Fig. 4). For details, refer to the other articles in this special issue. In particular, Network Objectplaza features include a group of wrapping tools for effective interconnection with new application servers by using resources of mainframes and client server systems in the system interconnection framework unchanged, an application framework that packages common components to construct applications quickly, and a solution service that supports the construction and operation of corporate information systems. Solution Examples and Effects of System Improvement by Network Objectplaza The following paragraphs show several examples of solutions that use the functions of Network Objectplaza to implement a value-added service by combining a new system while using the resources of the existing system. (1) One-stop travel service system Fig. 5 shows an example of a travel system that implements one-stop service by interconnecting with the existing multiple-application systems. This example shows how a new one-stop service is implemented by using and interconnecting the seat

5 New Information Systems for the Network Age 236 Travel products/ reserved tickets issuing PC at travel agency (browser) Internet/ intranet UNIX server (travel service) processing/ GUI processing program TPBroker VOS3 connection wrapper Wrapping (railroad system/ aircraft system) VOS3 system Seat reservation system DB UNIX /NT server (hotel system) HP-UX* Windows NT Hotel reservation system TPBroker *HP-UX is the name of an operating system of Hewlett-Packard Co. DB Problems with the current operation An external system is accessed through a separate online terminal (for seat or hotel reservation). Customer services can t be accelerated further because high quality of service must be assured. Overview and efforts of the new system Allows retrieving data through the web page of a PC in each agency Allows reserving and issuing tickets for multiple travel products at the same time Accelerates the service and eases the acquisition of customer data to develop new products Fig. 5 Travel System for One-Stop Service. An example of a travel system implementing a one-stop service by interconnecting existing multiple application systems. Management systems R/3* server Purchasing/ accounting system Facility management system/capital assets management Wrapping CAD sever Piping diagram/ power schematic diagram (CAD) Engineering systems Document management sever Facility technical document Problems with the current operation The purchasing/accounting, facility management and power diagram system are operated individually. Operation is complicated with various dedicated terminals. Data mismatches cause management mistakes. Parts list (Each system is operated from the browser screen.) Piping CAD diagram Technical document information Equipment list Facility Management Integrated Screen Overview and effects of the new system Links the operation from the screen of a PC Streaming the operation by interconnecting different application systems functionally Improves the operability by linking data * R/3 is a registered trademark of SAP AG. Fig. 6 Integrated Facility Management System by Interconnecting Multiple Systems. An example of a facility management system that improves efficiency by interconnecting application systems functionally. reservation system on an existing mainframe and the hotel system on a server system. Internally, it interconnects the existing customer management system and a new travel product and reserved ticket issuing system through an intranet using distributed object technology. It also interconnects the internal seat reservation system with the outside terminals of travel agencies via the Internet to provide customers with a total travel planning service. (2) Integrated facility management system by interconnecting multiple application systems Fig. 6 shows an example of a facility management system that allows the user to use the same operation from a single personal computer to handle several facility management systems that previously had been implemented and operated separately. This is done by interconnecting them using distributed object technology.

6 Hitachi Reviw Vol. 47 (1998), No Customers Browser Customers Intranet WWW server UNIX/NT server processing/ GUI processing program TPBroker VOS3 connection wrapper Wrapping Online system Transaction DB Account DB Online terminal at service office Problem with the current operation It is difficult to change or add services because of a dedicated online system It is difficult to gain advantage over other companies because it is an over-the-counter service. Overview and effects of the new system Provides services through direct connection to customer s PC (for providing transaction information and issuing credit cards) Allows developing new services products quickly and improving the services Fig. 7 Internet Banking Providing Service Directly to Customers Personal Computers. An example of Internet banking that provides service directly to customers personal computers over the Internet. The management system for purchasing, accounting, and facility management and the engineering system, which had been operated separately, are interconnected by distributed object technology. This streamlines the tasks and significantly improves the perability. (3) Internet banking system that provides service directly to customer personal computers Fig. 7 shows an example of Internet banking providing service directly to the customers personal computers. With distributed object technology, the online system of the mainframe is used unchanged and connected to the new application server. This provides a differentiated service through direct connection to customers personal computers via the Internet. It also provides information quickly and facilitates the change or addition of services and development of new service products. CONCLUSIONS Distributed object technology is now used in solutions such as inter-computer electronic commerce (EC) and Internet banking that have been already proposed as Hitachi Commerce Solutions. It is expected that distributed object technology will be used even more widely in the coming network computing age of the Internet and intranets. Hitachi has developed a suite of products and solutions systematized for the future as the Network Objectplaza. Hitachi can thus contribute to the construction of highly reliable and high-performance network computing systems to improve corporate, public sector, and household activities. In addition, Hitachi will develop the best solution tailored to individual needs by combining products from other manufacturers. The succeeding articles will introduce the solutions, infrastructure technology, and development schemes of Network Objectplaza. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Nobuyuki Oshima Joined Hitachi, Ltd. in 1971 and now works at the Strategic Business Development Group of the Information Systems Business Planning Division. He is currently engaged in the planning of information system products. Mr. Oshima is a member of Information Processing Society of Japan, and can be reached by at n-ooshima@comp.hitachi.co.jp Isamu Kimura Joined Hitachi, Ltd. in 1971 and now works at the Strategic Business Development Group of the Information Systems Business Planning Division. He is currently engaged in the planning of information system products and can be reached by at i-kimura@comp.hitachi.co.jp