The BankWORKS CommServer has advanced the concepts of communications and the distribution of processes. Sharing of jobs, tasks and other processes has required the CommServer to have an enhanced connectivity with other sections of the integrated system, thus CommServer has been designed with a ?system building block? monitoring facility that addresses these required functions. Features include automatic logging, security, recovery, remote monitoring, and plug-in facilities.

Distribution of Processes

The decentralized processing structure of CommServer enables the sharing of processes. Each component of the system decomposes into various Business Processes (BPRs) connected to a node, and for each node, there may exist more than one BPR with the same function. CommServer for NT BPRs are designed so that whenever a full processing load has been calculated, another BPR with the same processing features will automatically share the load. The LPA decides when and to which BPR to send processes from overloaded BPRs.

Routing of Messages

The distributed components of the system interoperate through the passing of messages. Messages flowing through the system are the bloodstream that keep the body going. Communication messages in and out of the system are based on the ISO 8583 message standard. Other messages protocols available include VISAGEN II and APAC 30.

Network

Network on-line message procedures used with CommServer follow X.25 and TCP/IP protocols. Other protocols that may be used are BSC3270 and AS 400. Network messages may be transmitted locally using a LAN, Ethernet or Ring network, or remotely using a WAN, point to point or Internet.

Business Applications

The Business Applications used within the system deal with a wide range of communication of systems. There are multiple building blocks that may be connected to the CommServer system, including the VISA and Europay card organization networks. Other BPR building blocks of the system may be Point Of Sale (POS) networks and Automated Transaction Machines (ATM) networks.

The CommServer is able to distinguish between local processing and foreign data threading. For example, although the starting point of a VISA transaction may be via an ATM, CommServer identifies that this transaction must be routed through an international network. CommServer for will detect all the card information relevant to the transaction before passing the transaction to any external connection. The concept of linking a card product directly to a card organization is an important feature of CommServer, giving RS2 Software Group the edge as a total, worldwide, communication and information service provider.

Remote Support

The CommServer remote monitoring support consists of a logging, security, and control procedure for both LAN and WAN networks. Remote Monitoring is commonly situated on the User site, where there may be multiple Remote Monitoring installed. However, Remote Monitoring may be installed at remote locations where administrators of CommServer would centrally monitor system activity and usage. In this scenario Gateways would be used to connect systems, allowing remote investigations of event logs, system debugging and general problem solving procedures.