Technology

Unlike Web services and peer services, there is less standardization around real-time computing, at least from the broad business-oriented perspective that we are taking within this chapter. While Web services and peer services are technology enablers, real-time computing is actually orthogonal, and is more of a desired end state rather than a true computing platform driven by the vendors. But even so, real-time technologies will probably involve standard Internet protocols and open standards in order to move information and transactions throughout the enterprise in a fast and flexible manner. Therefore, standards such as Extensible Markup Language (XML) for describing data structures and persistent Internet connections between applications and business partners are a key part of the underlying technology. The remaining technology is comprised of the various parts of the real-time value chain discussed previously.