External programs can either be launched through the Task Assistant at the appropriate time, or can be more thoroughly integrated.
1. External Programs Launched Through Task Assistant
The Task Assistant can be configured to launch external programs (Spectec, for example) from the program’s corresponding task. Spectec planned maintenance, for example, can be launched through the Task Assistant within the following Tasks:
Chief Engineer’s Tasks: order spares, plan maintenance, report maintenance completion etc.
Second Engineer’s Tasks
This enables customers to add a combination of programs to an on board system without causing users to lose track of which program is needed for which task. For example, you can avoid the confusion of entering purchase requisitions on a Spectec system if you have decided to use an in-house purchasing application for the requisition tasks. Or, you can avoid confusion in the event that you wish to use a crew wage spreadsheet to enter crew accounts and crew bond data, while using an external crewing application for crew records /credentials etc.
2. Integrating External Programs With the Task Assistant
Users may integrate external programs three different ways:
Simple integration of all important executables
A fairly simple method of integration involves locating program executables and linking them to related tasks within the Task Assistant. Please note that it may be difficult to locate program executables for certain programs.
Integration through the exchange of data schemas with user intervention
Currently the Task Assistant uses a simple module based on Microsoft’s Biztalk server to process data schemas between software applications. This allows the Task Assistant to export data schemas through its own forms, and then pass them to the Biztalk server module where they can in turn be passed to an application of the user’s choice (Spectec or Lotus Notes, for example). The main purpose of the Biztalk module is to enable the forms that are created via the Task Assistant to be used in other systems. A module for the reverse process is also under development.
Integration through the incorporation of data action schemas without human intervention by means of application to application integration.
The Task Assistant is currently being used in a substantial research project in this area, which will be completed in March 2002. In this project, a large number of action schemas will be built, in addition to data schemas under development by IMPA and the new MECA organisation, which will allow an increased number of maritime processes to be carried out through automated integration between software applications.
For the user this will mean that the Task Assistant will be able to interact with in-house or business partner applications without human intervention. The Task Assistant will, by the end of this project, have all the necessary drivers to integrate with all other applications within the range of processing actions normally considered relevant to maritime business.
©2001 Ulysses Systems