CECID Launches Test Site of OASIS ebXML V2 Registry Reference Implementation

Hong Kong, Peoples Republic of China. April 08, 2002

Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development (CECID), Department of Computer Science Information Systems, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) is pleased to announce today the immediate availability of an OASIS ebXML V2 Registry. This implementation of the OASIS ebXML V2 Registry/Repository (ebXMLRR) standard fully implements all functions of the standard and is currently in its beta release version. CECID encourages developers interested in developing ebXML related products and services to use this implementation for testing purposes. The HKU ebXML Registry is available at http://registry.csis.hku.hk:8201/ebxmlrr/registry through Registry client software.

The OASIS ebXML V2 Registry/Repository standard is emerging as a key component of developing Web Services for e-commerce and many other uses. The OASIS ebXML Registry/Repository is a general registry, which can be used not only for business but also for any other organization or entity and for any purpose. The OASIS standard accomplished this generality because it uses a generic and extensible information model that can be adapted to many uses. This information model includes the ability to have arbitrary associations between entries in the registry. Furthermore, the standard includes a repository, which is a way of storing information about entries in the registry. Any type of data can be stored in repository including Web Service descriptions, XML data and documents, binary data (such as images, sound files, video data, executable application files, CAD files etc.), and any other kind of data. Using the registry, this data can be searched and classified using advanced ad hoc query mechanisms such as XML filter query and SQL query. Consequently, the OASIS ebXML Registry /Repository standard enables a powerful and flexible registry that can be deployed as a public registry, a private registry used within an organization, or a registry shared by an organization and its partners. The OASIS ebXML Registry specifications are available at http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/regrep/documents/2.0/specs.

The code for this implementation of the OASIS ebXML V2 Registry/Repository standard is based on an international collaboration with developers from around the world who are jointly participating in an open source community project hosted at Source Forge. The initial code base for the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge originated from a donation by Sun Microsystems Inc. to the open source development community of an internal implementation developed at Sun. Sun donated the code to the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge in November of 2001. Since then, an international community of developers committed to open international standards has worked together to complete this implementation of the OASIS ebXML Registry/Repository standard. The ebXMLRR project is available at http://ebxmlrr.sourceforge.net.

Researchers and developers from CECID were significant contributors to the open source ebXMLRR implementation project at Source Forge and are pleased to take the lead in hosting a publicly accessible test registry based on the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge. CECID will operate the registry on a trial basis in Q2CY02 under the auspices of its Project Phoenix, which is sponsored by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Government, to establish an ebXML software infrastructure in Hong Kong.

Project Phoenix also involves other lead technology users in the industry as project sponsors and collaborators. MTRC, the major subway system operator in Hong Kong, and Saggio, a large office supplies provider in Asia, have started a pilot project to conduct automatic e-procurement of office supplies. Later, additional parties such as Hong Kong Airport Cargo Terminals Limited will join the pilot. The Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce has also planned to operate the registry in trial mode in CY03. Information on CECID and Project Phoenix is available on http://www.cecid.hku.hk.

In addition to the OASIS ebXML V2 Registry implementation, the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge is also developing a client user interface. The client software provides a unique user interface (UI) for graphically visualizing registry content. The client software is currently in an alpha release. A guided tour of the registry is available by launching the client UI of the registry as described at http://ebxmlrr.sourceforge.net/registryBrowserGuide/registryBrowserGuide.html.

The ebXMLRR UI client software is based on the Java API for XML Registries ('JAXR') which is being developed through the Java Specification Request (JSR) process of the Java Community Process (JCP) as JSR 93. JAXR provides a single standard Java API that allows Java programmers to interact with emerging standards for XML Registries including both ebXML Registry and UDDI. The ebXMLRR UI client software also uses the Java API for XML Messaging ('JAXM') in order to send SOAP based messages between the client software and the registry. These SOAP messages are used to send requests to the OASIS ebXML Registry and to receive responses from the registry.

Since both the registry and the client software are based on Java and XML, the implementations are portable across platforms and operating systems, and can also interoperate with implementations on other platforms and written in other languages.

About CECID (http://www.cecid.hku.hk):
Established in January 2002, the Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development (CECID) at the University of Hong Kong conducts e-commerce research and development with the vision of helping Hong Kong increase its competitiveness in the international arena. CECID has the missions to develop e-commerce enabling technologies, to join important international e-commerce initiatives, to support e-commerce standardization for Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific Region, and to transfer e-commerce technology and skills to the community. As an OASIS member, CECID is participating in the standardization projects, such as ebXML and Universal Business Language (UBL). CECID also collaborates with a number of lead technology users in the Asia Pacific Region on the application of advanced e-commerce technologies in the industry.

About ebXML (http://www.ebxml.org):
The mission of ebXML is to provide an open XML-based infrastructure enabling the global use of electronic business information in an interoperable, secure and consistent manner by all parties. ebXML (Electronic Business using Extensible Markup Language), sponsored by UN/CEFACT and OASIS, is a modular suite of specifications that enables enterprises of any size and in any geographical location to conduct business over the Internet. Using ebXML, companies now have a standard method to exchange business messages, conduct trading relationships, communicate data in common terms and define and register business processes.

About OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org):
OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) is a not-for-profit, global consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of e-business standards. Members themselves set the OASIS technical agenda, using a lightweight, open process expressly designed to promote industry consensus and unite disparate efforts. OASIS produces worldwide standards for security, Web services, XML conformance, business transactions, electronic publishing, topic maps and interoperability within and between marketplaces.

About the Java Community Process (JCP) Program (http://www.jcp.org):
Since its introduction in 1995 as the open, inclusive process to develop and revise Java technology specifications, reference implementations, and technology compatibility kits, the Java Community Process program has fostered the evolution of the Java platform in cooperation with the international Java developer community. More than 90 Java technology specifications are in development in the JCP program, which has over 350 company and individual participants.

About Sun Microsystems (http://www.sun.com):
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- The Network Is The Computer -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to dot-com their businesses. With $19.2 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries.

For more information:

Dorris Tai (cwtai@csis.hku.hk)
Business Manager
Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development (CECID)
Dept. of Computer Science & Information Systems
The University of Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2859 2818
Fax: +852 2547 4611
URL: http://www.cecid.hku.hk

Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive.

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CECID encourages developers interested in developing ebXML related products and services to use this implementation for testing purposes. The HKU ebXML Registry is available at `http://registry.csis.hku.hk:8201/ebxmlrr/registry` through Registry client software. The OASIS ebXML V2 Registry/Repository standard is emerging as a key component of developing Web Services for e-commerce and many other uses. The OASIS ebXML Registry/Repository is a general registry, which can be used not only for business but also for any other organization or entity and for any purpose. The OASIS standard accomplished this generality because it uses a generic and extensible information model that can be adapted to many uses. This information model includes the ability to have arbitrary associations between entries in the registry. Furthermore, the standard includes a repository, which is a way of storing information about entries in the registry. Any type of data can be stored in repository including Web Service descriptions, XML data and documents, binary data (such as images, sound files, video data, executable application files, CAD files etc.), and any other kind of data. Using the registry, this data can be searched and classified using advanced ad hoc query mechanisms such as XML filter query and SQL query. Consequently, the OASIS ebXML Registry /Repository standard enables a powerful and flexible registry that can be deployed as a public registry, a private registry used within an organization, or a registry shared by an organization and its partners. The OASIS ebXML Registry specifications are available at http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/regrep/documents/2.0/specs. The code for this implementation of the OASIS ebXML V2 Registry/Repository standard is based on an international collaboration with developers from around the world who are jointly participating in an open source community project hosted at Source Forge. The initial code base for the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge originated from a donation by Sun Microsystems Inc. to the open source development community of an internal implementation developed at Sun. Sun donated the code to the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge in November of 2001. Since then, an international community of developers committed to open international standards has worked together to complete this implementation of the OASIS ebXML Registry/Repository standard. The ebXMLRR project is available at http://ebxmlrr.sourceforge.net. Researchers and developers from CECID were significant contributors to the open source ebXMLRR implementation project at Source Forge and are pleased to take the lead in hosting a publicly accessible test registry based on the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge. CECID will operate the registry on a trial basis in Q2CY02 under the auspices of its Project Phoenix, which is sponsored by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Government, to establish an ebXML software infrastructure in Hong Kong. Project Phoenix also involves other lead technology users in the industry as project sponsors and collaborators. MTRC, the major subway system operator in Hong Kong, and Saggio, a large office supplies provider in Asia, have started a pilot project to conduct automatic e-procurement of office supplies. Later, additional parties such as Hong Kong Airport Cargo Terminals Limited will join the pilot. The Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce has also planned to operate the registry in trial mode in CY03. Information on CECID and Project Phoenix is available on http://www.cecid.hku.hk. In addition to the OASIS ebXML V2 Registry implementation, the ebXMLRR project at Source Forge is also developing a client user interface. The client software provides a unique user interface (UI) for graphically visualizing registry content. The client software is currently in an alpha release. A guided tour of the registry is available by launching the client UI of the registry as described at http://ebxmlrr.sourceforge.net/registryBrowserGuide/registryBrowserGuide.html. The ebXMLRR UI client software is based on the Java API for XML Registries ('JAXR') which is being developed through the Java Specification Request (JSR) process of the Java Community Process (JCP) as JSR 93. JAXR provides a single standard Java API that allows Java programmers to interact with emerging standards for XML Registries including both ebXML Registry and UDDI. The ebXMLRR UI client software also uses the Java API for XML Messaging ('JAXM') in order to send SOAP based messages between the client software and the registry. These SOAP messages are used to send requests to the OASIS ebXML Registry and to receive responses from the registry. Since both the registry and the client software are based on Java and XML, the implementations are portable across platforms and operating systems, and can also interoperate with implementations on other platforms and written in other languages. About CECID (http://www.cecid.hku.hk): Established in January 2002, the Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development (CECID) at the University of Hong Kong conducts e-commerce research and development with the vision of helping Hong Kong increase its competitiveness in the international arena. CECID has the missions to develop e-commerce enabling technologies, to join important international e-commerce initiatives, to support e-commerce standardization for Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific Region, and to transfer e-commerce technology and skills to the community. As an OASIS member, CECID is participating in the standardization projects, such as ebXML and Universal Business Language (UBL). CECID also collaborates with a number of lead technology users in the Asia Pacific Region on the application of advanced e-commerce technologies in the industry. About ebXML (http://www.ebxml.org): The mission of ebXML is to provide an open XML-based infrastructure enabling the global use of electronic business information in an interoperable, secure and consistent manner by all parties. ebXML (Electronic Business using Extensible Markup Language), sponsored by UN/CEFACT and OASIS, is a modular suite of specifications that enables enterprises of any size and in any geographical location to conduct business over the Internet. Using ebXML, companies now have a standard method to exchange business messages, conduct trading relationships, communicate data in common terms and define and register business processes. About OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org): OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) is a not-for-profit, global consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of e-business standards. Members themselves set the OASIS technical agenda, using a lightweight, open process expressly designed to promote industry consensus and unite disparate efforts. OASIS produces worldwide standards for security, Web services, XML conformance, business transactions, electronic publishing, topic maps and interoperability within and between marketplaces. About the Java Community Process (JCP) Program (http://www.jcp.org): Since its introduction in 1995 as the open, inclusive process to develop and revise Java technology specifications, reference implementations, and technology compatibility kits, the Java Community Process program has fostered the evolution of the Java platform in cooperation with the international Java developer community. More than 90 Java technology specifications are in development in the JCP program, which has over 350 company and individual participants. About Sun Microsystems (http://www.sun.com): Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- The Network Is The Computer -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to dot-com their businesses. With $19.2 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries. For more information: Dorris Tai (cwtai@csis.hku.hk) Business Manager Center for E-Commerce Infrastructure Development (CECID) Dept. of Computer Science & Information Systems The University of Hong Kong Tel: +852 2859 2818 Fax: +852 2547 4611 URL: http://www.cecid.hku.hk Source: http://www.cecid.hku.hk/Release/PR09APR2002.html. Copyright 2002 Department of Computer Science and Information Systems - The University of Hong Kong. Prepared by Robin Cover for The XML Cover Pages archive.