9.6 Technical Requirements
9.6.1 Network
Discussions were made following the explanation made by Mr. Y. Kojo on the table Technical Requirements - Network in which each of the three categories of networks: VAN to VAN, Internet and Extranet is analyzed on the six issue items: development cost (center), operation cost (user), security, transfer acknowledgement, and connectivity for existing user and new user respectively.
1] Mr. Robertson commented that it will be difficult to choose the network alternative before the trading partners have been decided. However, he recommended Internet because user will not be prepared to spend a lot of money on new software in the test environment. Internet is moving mechanism of a browser and a form, and is probably the best as it would not involve big investment for any party.
2] Mr. Kashima raised a question in relation to what the difference is between Internet and Extranet. The Chairman and Mr. M. Tomishima explained that Internet does not have one central control point like Extranet, but it is rather distributed control. Extranet needs bigger investment than Internet to build its own security in the system, though both of them are using the same technology, such as TCP/IP, Firewall, SMTP, HTML, XML, etc.
3] In using Internet for the trial we will face with the technical and security problems. Therefore, it was decided to use the existing VAN to VAN interconnections for international communication in this international EC/EDI trial. Domestic network connections to be determined locally.
4] After lengthy discussions it was concluded that the VANs to be used would be decided later on.
9.6.2 Syntax
Discussions were made following the explanation made by Mr. Kojo on the table Technical Requirements - Syntax in which each of UN/EDIFACT and XML/EDI is checked on five issue items: current condition in the world, current condition of Japan, network, software tool, and initial cost.
1] The meeting agreed to use UN/EDIFACT in this international EC/EDI trial.
2] Mr. Keogh commented that it would be too early to use XML in anything on an international sense. Experiment with XML locally is fine, but it is really an issue for the future at this stage. Mr. Robertson mentioned that the result of the investigation on XML will be announced within a few months. Therefore, the meeting agreed with the policy to use the existing UN/EDIFACT.
