Enabling the Semantic Web:
An ECommerce Platform
for Planning and Configuration of
Complex Products and Services
H. Schweppe, Freie Universität Berlin
Computer Science Institute
J. Nicklisch-Franken, Persist AG
Teltow, Germany
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
services
Time and cost
restrictions
Planning and
coordination needs
eJournal
Editor
Retrieval
Service
Reader
Evaluation
Serivce
Lector
Archive
Bank
Publisher
Digital
Library
Broker
Advertising
Service
The Internet
Proof
Reader
Print
Shop
Author
Catalogue
Service
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Scenario B: How to configure your computer
 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.
Internet
provider
Software
distributor
ASP
HW Manufacturer A
Product
test results
Bank
ASP
Service
Infos
The Internet
Security
consultant
Catalogue
service
Special
graphics
card manual.
HW manufacturer B
Time and cost restrictions
Planning and coordination needs
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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
4
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...
... 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
6
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 alternatives
could be services ("publish a book" not just selling one !) or
systems (cars, computers, and all kinds of machinery)
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Layers
... Applications....
Application Adaptors
Schema
Library
Workflow
Simulation
GUI Frameworks
Interfaces
...
Resource Oriented Inference
Planning
Configuration
Constraint Solving
Data Access and Management
Remote
Local
Data Access Repository
Schema
Application
Management specific search ...
Business Rules in middle tier
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Goals
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 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
10
To 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
Deutschland
Rheinstr. 7c
D-14513 Teltow
Telefon:
Telefax:
Email:
WWW:
0049 (0) 3328 / 3477 - 0
0049 (0) 3328 / 3477 - 29
[email protected]
www.persistag.com
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AR-Vors.: Dieter Brandenburger
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USt.-IdNr. DE 812 629 024
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