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Part II: Integratting the Application Client with the legacy CGI interface

 
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can any one who had cleared part II throw some light as to how u managed to
integrate the reward travel system that is GI/PERL interface.

The requirements state that:
"
1)FBN also has a frequent flyer mileage system that tracks mileage earned and used. To this point in FBN�s existence, it is the only system that has a web interface. And This system was developed using Perl, HTML, CGI and an Oracle database.

2) Our travel agents Java application must be able to access the system and we want our customers to have access through the Internet."

My doubt #1:
-------------
#1 above says that it has a web interface but doesnt say is it having an interface that can be used to integrated with my application cient [i am looking for something like a xml-rpc/corba or some other interfaces that can be used to integreate - but found nothing of that sort]

What i undertand is that there is a working web application developed using cgi perl. But what i need is an API [published by the award travel system] as i need to manage and look-up the cusotmer account out there in order to use the miles-earned during the pay itinerary usecase if the user opts for the same.



My doubt #1:
-------------
#2 says that both the web application [used by the cusotmer onine] as well as the java [swing] application must interface with the award travel system. But for the web application, does it require to redirect from the FBN applicaiton to the existing web application [in CGI).

If yes, the customer after having viewed his award details can enter the award information to avail the reward program while paying his itinerary...[ i am thinking of opening the legacy cgi application in a seperate browser window so that user can independaly use the reward system [but would be troublesome due to different look-n-feel]

I dont know whether this is the right assumption about integrating the two web application.

Pls help me out on the above two issus i have.

Thanks in advance.

subra
 
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Hello,

I think the Frequent Flyer Mileage System is read only for the customer and travel agent.

As far as updating the FF customer accout: From what I've read about frequent flyer miles, they don't get applied to a system until the physical departure occurs. In FlyByNight, Inc., this might be done by a third party. If it is not, then the cgi methods can be called from the new system to update the customer's account.

-Ravi
 
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I think the use case mentions that the customer can choose awards travel. In this case the frequent flyer system needs to be updated, hence it may not be considered a read only system.
 
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It is mentioned that the FFM is currently an internal system, thus it should not be open to the public. As it did cost 500.000$ it must have quiet some business logic and we are not supposed to reimplement it.

Thus the only option I see is to use some sort of html "screen scraper".

Any comments?
 
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What about direct database reads to the Oracle instance in the FFM box? Since we should have the Perl source code of the system (since Perl is an interpreted language), then we know the queries that reads the mileage data. Besides, if a screen scraper is used, the 10 secs response requirement may be hard to meet since the screen scraper has to log in to the system and do stuff.
 
Manik Saha
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Directly going to the Oracle database would bypass the business logic, IMHO that is riskier than using a screen scraper, especially for the awards travel.
 
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Simple advice:

Pick one approach (HTML Scraping or JDBC), document why you recommend it and if you want provide cons for the other option.

I think Sun is looking for :
(a) completeness of the solution and
(b) whether it meets the requirement and
(c) what design pattern is used to solve this interface.
(d) Whether the solution is extensible or not
 
subramanian radhakrishnan
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thanks to all of you for ur ideas.

subra
 
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Hi mahesh/ deepak,

Since both of these approaches are having pros n cons..n im not somehow happy to use any of these. Im wondering are these the only 2 ways?
Are there no other options/methods avilable to connect to the CGI/perl logic implementation.
any links or possibilites wud be apreciated.
Mahesh did u choose out of these only?

thanks in advance,
Rashmi
 
Deepak Pant
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Originally posted by Rashmi Razdan:
Hi mahesh/ deepak,

Since both of these approaches are having pros n cons..n im not somehow happy to use any of these. Im wondering are these the only 2 ways?
Are there no other options/methods avilable to connect to the CGI/perl logic implementation.
any links or possibilites wud be apreciated.
Mahesh did u choose out of these only?

thanks in advance,
Rashmi



Rashmi,

One of the stated requirement is that there should be no changes on the Frequent Flyer System. So we are left with two choices... either to deal with the front end or to deal with the back end. The business logic is written in Perl/CGI so nothing like a business tier.

Suggest you pick one approach and march on... I think Sun will put importance on what design pattern you apply for this interface, how flexible and extensible the interface design is.

Hope this helps,
Deepak
 
Rashmi Razdan
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Thanks deepak for hints!
 
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