"We wanted an application server that would allow our services to be distributable, to auto-load balance, and to self-maintain, and Jini was the only technology that could do that."
Jared Brown
Lead Developer
lightflow, Inc.
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- Netra t 1125 Server
- Netra t1 model 105 Server
- Sun Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE)
- Java Technology
- Jini Network Technology
- Solaris Operating System
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- Online sales process is complex, frustrating, time-consuming
- Solution must be compatible with existing platforms and architectures
- Service loads are unpredictable and networks are unreliable
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- Handles multiple media streams simultaneously
- Enables the dynamic generation of online content
- Incorporates artificial intelligence to proactively monitor service loads in response to client needs
- Increases productivity and lowers IT costs by offering ease of use, portability, and simplified maintenance
- Leverages inherent scalability, flexibility, and reliability of the Java platform
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Executive Summary
The spontaneous ability of Jini technology to connect, communicate, and interact with customers anytime, anywhere enables the rapid and cost-effective development and deployment of new applications and services. As the platform for lightflow's self-healing, ubiquitous distributed system, Jini technology provides remote shoppers with instant access to the first available customer service representative, enhancing the online shopping experience.
Making travel arrangements over the Internet can be confusing and frustrating. For an ideal situation, imagine that while booking a cruise over the Internet, you and your online agent could synchronize your Web browsers in real time to view and discuss the same pictures of cruise ships and their ports of call. Then, you could just as easily compare other vacation destinations and save your options to a personalized Web page before making your decision.
That's just what lightflow, Inc., a customer collaboration and personalization software company, is doing. Using Sun's innovative Jini and Java technologies, lightflow is adding a human dimension to online shopping through two-way multimedia streams (in development); text-chat, synchronized Web browsing; and other cutting-edge interaction and personalization tools such as the lightflow Customer Page. Since most complex sales require several interactions between a buyer and a seller, lightflow's Customer Page provides momentum for the sales process that reduces the time it takes to complete it.
The Customer Page can be assembled after a customer has made a request, or at the point of sale, in real time. Once constructed, the business can direct specific dynamic content, advertising, and highly personal permission marketing to the client's Customer Page to help facilitate future sales. The result is a cost-effective selling process that improves the percentage of online purchases and customer retention.
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A better way to handle large application loads -- quickly and easily.
Applying the power of Jini and Java technologies, lightflow created a business network solution that bridges online and offline service and sales capabilities.
To build its unique two-way communications system, lightflow needed a development platform that:
- Offers extreme scalability
- Handles multiple media streams simultaneously
- Enables the dynamic generation of online content
- >Provides fault tolerance
- Incorporates artificial intelligence to proactively monitor service loads in response to client needs
Jini technology's ability to self-heal, self-generate, and self-configure were vital to building lightflow's solution. The lightflow services register with a central lookup service which is based on the Jini lookup service and can have multiple Jini implementations of those services running simultaneously. The powerful and extendable nature of the Jini framework provided lightflow with the foundation to build in self-healing attributes. These allow lightflow to silently and seamlessly transfer the load to another Jini implementation. A new copy can then be brought up to function as a backup.
Although solutions from Oracle, Microsoft, BEA Systems, and Object Space were evaluated, none handled lightflow's large application loads as quickly and easily as Jini network technology. As the platform for lightflow's self-healing, ubiquitous distributed system, Jini technology provides remote shoppers with instant access to the first available customer service representative on the lightflow system.
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Seamless interface is a key factor in choosing an audiovisual application.
To facilitate real-time, personalized communication between service representatives and customers, lightflow also required an audiovisual(AV) framework that would allow AV solutions in development to be dynamically plugged into the system. Lightflow's framework had to be compatible with multiple platforms, as well. Offerings from Microsoft, Apple's QuickTime, and RealNetworks were eliminated because of their complexity and need for additional software on the client. Because of its flexible architecture and ability to support a wide range of lightflow's customers operating on a variety of platforms, Sun's Java Media Framework technology was selected.
The Java platform's seamless interface with Jini technology also cuts down on the time and expense needed to build lightflow's solution. The Java Media Framework API is being used to develop lightflow's audio and video solution, while Java servlets will enable service representatives to create dynamic online content in XML for immediate delivery to a customer's browser or Customer Page.
The result is an application that:
- Eliminates frustrating wait times
- Enables lightflow users to dramatically improve their online customer relationships
- Increases the ability to close sales and increase profitability
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The many advantages of Jini technology.
Both Java and Jini technologies offer lightflow the following advantages:
- Compatibility with existing platforms and architectures
- Easy to use, portable, and easy to maintain, which increase productivity and lowers IT costs
- Highly reliable, guaranteed by current systems based on Java technology
- Self-generating, self healing, and self-configuring
- Adapts to ever-changing demands
- Establishes a network that is people-bound, not location-bound
- Easily moves from static to dynamic network, resulting in new opportunities for service delivery
- Enables intuitive, interactivity for consumers within a network
- Leverages the inherent security of the Java programming language
"Although we looked at solutions from Oracle, Microsoft, BEA Systems, and ObjectSpace, we quickly discovered that only Sun was able to deliver a total solution that met our requirements from a development, operational, and hardware perspective," said Bill McKibben, lightflow's Chief Software Architect. "Only Jini network technology and the Java platform delivered the scalability, flexibility, reliability, and openness we needed to build lightflow's unique, two-way communications applications."
In addition to Sun's application development tools, lightflow also selected Netra servers and the Solaris 8 Operating Environment to power its hosted service offerings. The majority of lightflow's solutions are targeted at companies operating in high-touch vertical markets such as travel, financial services, and retail.
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How can Jini network technology work for you?
Sun's Jini technology solutions enable device manufacturers, service providers, and content creators to gain a competitive business advantage and capitalize on new revenue streams by rapidly and cost-effectively developing and deploying compelling new applications and services over networks for their customers worldwide.
In alignment with Sun's philosophy, technologies such as Jini are truly open to the marketplace, allowing more widespread innovation and providing a level playing field for manufacturers, developers, and service providers alike. Jini technology is being developed through the Jini community as part of a noncompetitive industry consortium that is focused on open standards.
For organizations that leverage Jini technology, there's no question that the future is here for creating dynamically networked, secure products, services, and applications that scale from handheld devices to enterprise-wide servers and offer access to information anywhere, anytime -- key elements to growing your business.
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