XMLVend (Online Vending Specification) Towards an Industry Standard (NRS009-6-10)

Presented byKennedy Subramoney

Specification – Project Leader Resources & Strategy (A Division of Eskom)

CR&D Department

XMLVend (Online Vending Specification)

Towards an Industry Standard(NRS009-6-10)

1. XMLVend Background2. Online Vending - Context3. XMLVend Specification Overview4. Road Map5. Some implementation insights6. XMLVend 2.07. Conclusions8. XMLVend in Action

Discussion Points

Background The requirements for an Online

Vending Specification were: Curb the use of Proprietary Systems. Specify minimum security, communication,

& interoperability standards. Must be platform independent, extensible

and adaptable. Support existing prepayment standards,

STS and CVS (NRS009 Series). Ensure industry support and ownership. Utilize existing industry technology

standards. Development tool set support Existing Developer Skills base.

Online Vending Centralized Multiuser Database Centralized Vending Business Logic Centralized Security Modules (STS Token Generation) “Thin” Client / Server Architecture

SM

MasterDatabase

BusinessLogic

Online ClientApplication

OnlineServer

Application

BusinessLogic

“Permanent”Connection

Specification Overview

Web Service Interoperability Organization (WS-I) – Ensures interoperability.

WSDL - XML file used to define the contract by which ML file used to define the contract by which the Web Service Providers and Consumers interact, the Web Service Providers and Consumers interact, i.e. Vending Servers and Vending Clients.i.e. Vending Servers and Vending Clients.

XML Schema - XML file used to define message XML file used to define message contents and message element data types and contents and message element data types and constraints.constraints.

XML Schema 1.0

WSDL 1.1

Message Pair Data Model

WS-I Basic Profile 1.0aWS-I Usage Scenarios 1.01

Web Services layer –(XML and SOAP)

Content Compression uses GZIP.

Application layer uses HTTP.

Security - SSL / TLS authentication and encryption.

TCP/IP – Network Communications layer.

Link / Physical Layer

Specification Overview

SOAP 1.1

HTTP 1.1

XML 1.0 (second edition)

Security Protocol - SSL / TLS

Network Communications Protocol - TCP / IP

Compression Algorithm - GZIP

Ethernet, GPRS, POTS Dial-up, X25, LeasedLines

Implementation Protocols

XMLVend Road Map

v1.0(5/03/2004)

•1st Release

v1.1(11/06/2004)

•Fixes minorIssues.•Server RFP

v1.22(28/01/2005)•Major Update•KCT•<choice> schema type•Tax Details

v2.0May/June

‘06•Major Update•New Use Cases.•O.O.

Implementation Insights

Eskom Server RFP and Pilot Results. Extensive Testing of Use Cases – updates identified. Implementation of SSL / TLS. Implementation of GZIP Compression.

Security (SSL / TLS)

Technology easily implemented, however the required supporting PKI is still to be tested.

Mandatory “Client ID” Authentication on every financial request.

VendingClient Vending

Server

XMLVend_Request (123)

XMLVend_Response

XMLVend_Request (456)

XMLVend_Response

Secure SSL Channel

Client ID-123

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

XMLVend Messages

Byte

s

Total Message Size -Compressed

Total Message Size - NoCompression

Compression - GZIP Average saving - 1156 bytes Average % Impact of GZIP - 38%.

Compression - GZIP

Average Overhead – 53% Vend Use Case overhead – 47%

XMLVend Vend Message Stack

52.21

35.33

12.46

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

80.00

100.00

120.00

Vend

Per

cen

tag

e

%SSL Overhead

% HTTP Header

% Soap Body

Illustrative Message Costs* Assuming GPRS cost of R2-00 per MB The cost of a Vend and EBSST

transactions are – 0.41 cents and 0.39 cents resp.

The average cost of all transactions – 0.38 cents.

Note: These costs only indicate the cost per transaction and not the Total Cost of Operating an Online Vending System.

XMLVend 2.0 The following new Use Cases have been

identified: Credit Update Statement STS Engineering Tokens Auto-Reprint Last Transaction Debt Recovery Bank (“Create Deposit Slip”) Customer Fault Reporting Account Payments Reprint Deposit Slip

XMLVend 2.0

Improved Object Oriented Design. Message size optimization. HTTP Header optimization. Specification Reference

Implementation. Specification Test Suite Release.

Conclusions XMLVend ensures that there is the

continued standardization of prepayment vending.

XMLVend1.0 has been produced with significant contributions from several vending equipment suppliers, which demonstrates the level of maturity within the industry.

XMLVend has matured into a robust and stable specification, with significant support to become an Industry Standard.

XMLVend in Action

Thank youThank you

and Acknowledgementand Acknowledgement of all contributors to XMLVend - of all contributors to XMLVend -

a specification for industry, by the industry. a specification for industry, by the industry.

[email protected]

http://www.nrs.eskom.co.za/xmlvendhttp://www.nrs.eskom.co.za/xmlvend