Enabling the Semantic Web : An ECommerce Platform for Planning and Configuration of

1. 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

2. eJournal Reader Editor Retrieval Service Evaluation Serivce Lector Archive Bank Publisher Digital Library Broker Advertising The Internet Author Service Proof Print Catalogue Reader Shop Service Scenario A: How to publish a book? • Publishing of a book is an arduous task because of... • Many different activities • The Web: Unbundling and disintegrationof publishing and library services • Time and cost restrictions • Planning and coordination needs

3. Special graphics card manual. Softwaredistributor ASP HW Manu- facturer A Bank ASP Service Internetprovider The Internet Infos Scenario B: How to configure your computer • Configuring 200 PCs for your company in an optimal way is demanding: • Different manufacturersoffer 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 Product test results Securityconsultant Catalogue service HW manu-facturer B

4. Common 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. What is different ... ... from standard ECommerce platforms? • Not just acting, but acting together with planning and configuring • Acting: select a product, buy it, charge • Planning 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 minutes • More sophisticated goods with options and alternativescould be services ("publish a book" not just selling one !) or systems (cars, computers, and all kinds of machinery)

8. Layers ... Applications.... Application Adaptors Schema Library Workflow Simulation GUI FrameworksInterfaces ... ResourceOriented Inference Planning Configuration Constraint Solving Data Access and Management Remote Data Access LocalRepository SchemaManagement Applicationspecific search ... Business Rules in middle tier

9. Goals • Set up a prototype system within 2 years • Demonstrate feasibility ofa sophisticated ECommerce platform withplanning / configuration capabilities utilizing knowledgestructuresof the Semantic Web • Interface the system with commercialplatforms having a different focus (e.g. BizTalk / MS) • Gain experience in a real-world-application • Second phase: Transform the platform into a product

10. Joint 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

11. To Do • Potential partners shouldmake a contact with us today / tomorrow ... • ... or send Email to jnf@persistag.com | hs@inf.fu-berlin.de • 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 proposalmid January 2001 in Berlin / Teltow

12. 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: info@persistag.com Registergericht Potsdam HRB 12318 D-14513 Teltow WWW: www.persistag.com USt.-IdNr. DE 812 629 024