Abstracts of Magazine FUJITSU 1998-7 (VOL.49, NO.4)

Special Issue : EC/CALS

• Overview of Electronic Commerce (EC) and Commerce at Light Speed (CALS)

Electronic Commerce （EC） and Commerce At Light Speed （CALS） are being widely acknowledged as key concepts of improving work efficiency and adding high business value for companies, as well as industry. The basic concept of EC/CALS is to realize efficient corporate management between departments and companies through the digitizing, standardizing, and sharing of required information. Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry （MITI） conducted a project from fiscal 1995 promoting the "Advanced Electronic Commerce Experience." Consequently, most of the Japanese leading companies have developed new business areas by using such methodology and practical systems. Benefits afforded by introducing EC/CALS include reduced costs, faster business protocol, improved product quality, and the nurturing of new business relationships throughout the corporate group and affiliates. EC/CALS represents key information technology through which companies can increase global competitive power in any field of business. This paper describes an overview of EC/CALS and its promising future.

• CALS Activities in Automotive Industry

The automotive industry has been examining the use of CALS technology to reduce design time and improve global competitiveness. This paper describes the purpose and results of an investigation of V-CALS conducted from April 1996 to March 1998 by four work groups and six subgroups.

• Development of Electronic Information System

This paper describes the development of a new electronic information system （similar to CALS） used to share information on general electronic components in the electronic equipment industry. SGML was adopted as the expression model for this new system. SGML Station, a new Fujitsu component, is employed to assist the program developer in describing the state of immaturity in a data base, and method of development. Existing relational data bases （RDBs） can also be used with SGML Station to define the application structure of RDB index tables.

• Development and Testing of Software CALS Environment

This paper describes the activities of the Software CALS Project, which involved the collaboration of 21 leading software companies in Japan. This project was launched to establish a standard protocol for software business over the Internet. Development of the support environment included testing of software development and the processes of maintenance, procurement, and component-based software development.

• Development of Electronic Notary Public System

There has been a dramatic surge in electronic business transactions conducted over the Internet in recent years. Unfortunately, technological problems regarding security, certification and cryptography remain unresolved. We have developed and trial-tested a new "electronic notary public system" to solve these problems and provide a first step toward an effective method of conducting business. This system features a notary function to secure transactions, and a witness function to conduct actual business. Though most aspects of electronic transactions have been established in our development, however, a witness system with sufficient functions to manage transactions based on electronic notarized data is necessary for actual business application in the future. This paper describes our new system.

• Research and Development of High Level Data Access Interface (HLDAI) for STEP Implementation of Application Object Level

This project proposes a new user-friendly approach with an application view to handling STEP data based on the application object level, instead of STEP AIM using HLDAI. The basic principles of system operation are based on a declarative mapping language technique. The HLDAI generation function creates a mapping description of the schema between a newly defined Application Program Model （APM） and AIM. This description is compiled to automatically generate HLDAI parts for application developers. This paper describes the research conducted by JSTEP for a public project on electronic commerce under the auspices of Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

• New CORBA Architecture for Large-Scale Distributive PDM

The rapid globalization of automotive design and development poses the problem of how to effectively access distributed design and development data, and manage synchronization. To address this problem, we applied CORBA technology as an international standard governing distributed network technology. We also examined high-speed access methods for the large-scale distribution of automotive design and development information. This paper describes the basic CORBA architecture and technological application of an advanced solution for the next generation of international open networks.

• Secure Electronic Commerce Environment (SECE) Project

Today many financial institutions and businesses are offering shopping systems over the Internet so that consumers can easily purchase products at convenient virtual shops. This paper describes the Secure Electronic Commerce Environment （SECE） project that developed protocol for secure payment over the Internet.
Secure Electronic Transaction （SET） has been established as an international standard for payment by credit card over the Internet. The SECE project proposed expanded protocol to SET, which was later approved and implemented, to satisfy requirements for credit card payment in Japan. The SECE project also developed transaction protocols for banking via the Internet, and is now developing protocol for stock transactions to expand areas of application for SECE technology. Fujitsu's COMMERCESTAGE is one series of software products that incorporates SECE technology.

• EDI EDIFACT International Standard

Electronic Data Interchange （EDI） has become popular in the fields of logistics and commerce because it improves operating efficiency. With the popularization of CALS and EC, EDI has become increasingly vital information technology. The ongoing globalization of business has also necessitated the construction of global EDI systems for many companies. Consequently, United Nations/EDI for Administration, Commerce and Transport （UN/EDIFACT） was adopted as the international standard for EDI. FEDIT/EDIFACT-TR is the EDI software product that translates UN/EDIFACT messages into application data, and vice versa. It also supports Japanese character and binary data exchange based on new UN/EDIFACT syntax revised in 1997, and uses a visual interface to simplify EDI operation.

• Implementing CALS at Fujitsu

The CALS project promotion division was established on April 1996, to supervise the promotion and implementation of CALS. This division is also responsible for developing core CALS technology. For instance, we have developed systems based on SGML, STEP, EDI, IETM and CITIS technologies to support such corporate activities as planning, development, supply, manufacturing, sales, maintenance and disposal. These systems have also been field-tested and evaluated at selected user sites.
The various support systems require that information be shared, however, both within and outside the company. Our systems development focuses on ways to improve and restructure routine tasks, with successful results being standardized, generalized and expanded throughout the Fujitsu group and beyond.
This paper introduces three examples of our implementation of CALS systems development: Product Data Management （PDM） System, Integrated Components Database System, and Integrated Engineering Information Electronic Data Interchange （EDI） System.

• Introduction to Japan Certification Services, Inc.

Unlike the traditional method of conducting real commerce, electronic commerce in an open network environment like the Internet requires digital certification to secure electronic transactions.
Japan Certification Services, Inc. （JCS） operates Public-Key Cryptosystems conforming to ISO/IEC9594-8 and ITU-TX.509. It also offers handling services for digital certification based on international standards for secured EC using encryption and Secure Electronic Transaction （SET） technology, while complying with the Secure Electronic Commerce Environment （SECE） standard of Japan. JCS provides certification when requested by such customers as organizations that handle user identification and registration. This paper introduces JCS, its functionality as a certification authority, business services offered, and range of certification application.

• Advanced Robotic Hand System (ARH) for Space Robots

There is a growing need for space robots aboard spacecraft to perform a variety of precise tasks currently being performed manually by astronauts. To evaluate the basic technology necessary for such robots, we developed the Advanced Robotic Hand System （ARH） as the precursor to the next generation of space robots.
Most space robots aboard spacecraft these days employ manipulators and end effectors to handle objects in a manner similar to operating a crane. The ARH features manual dexterity comparable to human dexterity, and consists of a robotic hand and mini-arm, along with onboard control equipment, testing tools, and a ground-based remote control system. The hand features three fingers and five types of sensors; it performs precise tasks automatically under onboard feedback control based on information from the sensors, and by considering positional error in response to teleoperation commands issued from the ground. Preliminary evaluation of the ARH in space was completed in March 1998. This paper describes the developmental background, features, configuration and space testing of the ARH.

• Integrated Library Information System (iLiswave)

Fujitsu designed the ILIS series; integrated library software for university libraries under the UNIX or mainframe environment. The ILIS series consist of ILIS, ILIS/X-70, and ILIS/X-WR. ILIS is the first integrated library software developed in Japan. ILIS/X-70 is used to manage bibliographic structure, publishers, and branch libraries. ILIS/X-WR is a leading software product incorporating open systems technology.
Fujitsu has now developed a new library software product called iLiswave, which is the first system in Japan to offer connection to new NACSIS-CAT/ILL services. Featuring a client-server system structure, iLiswave enables the flexible use of library functions by selecting the modules required. This new system also offers advanced functions for library users.

• Multifunction Video Codec for Surveillance Systems (FEDIS-U)

Video Codec （coder/decoder） is required for efficient video signal transmission by a remote surveillance system via a network. Though rarely used in a stand-alone configuration, Video Codec is usually combined with a variety of equipment for each specific system.
Fujitsu is introducing a new, compact, and multifunction Video Codec for surveillance systems, which features functions for connection with other equipment other than the video coder/decoder function.
This paper describes what is required by the remote surveillance market, and how the technology and functions of Video Codec satisfy those requirements.