AS4 (interface)
AS4 is a B2B interface for the exchange of data and documents between trading partners. The development of the new communication standard is the technical committee for communication services OASIS ( Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards ). The technical committee has formulated uniform guidelines which should enable a secure exchange in B2B communication using web services. The result of this work is the usage profile Applicability Statement 4 , or AS4 for short.
Advantages of AS4
AS4 is based on AS2 and ebMS 3.0. The profile has several advantages over other communication solutions for electronic data exchange . The aim of AS4 is to combine the functionality of the successful AS2 with the WS- * protocol stack with the help of ebMS v3.0. For this purpose, AS4 is expanding the ebMS v3.0 specifications (and the underlying WS-I profiles and the WS- * stack) for data packets, transfer, security, exchange patterns and traceability.
The AS4 protocol, which is based on web services, is particularly advantageous for companies and organizations that have already invested in web services. It also gives B2B providers access to web services that have so far failed to overcome this technical hurdle.
Development process of AS4
The beginnings of AS4 go back to 2007. At the time, the Drummond Group invited a group of B2B software providers to a series of technical discussions. The experts initially discussed, completely non-binding, how a functioning B2B communication with integrated web services could look like. At the end of the discussions, a list was drawn up with the most important points that such a B2B protocol would have to contain in order to meet essential requirements for data transmission, security, error handling, etc.
Until now, a lack of interoperability has always been the reason why similar projects had failed. When the experts went through the list again point by point, everyone involved agreed that AS2 basically already offers the desired type of functionality. However, this B2B interface was not yet able to integrate web services. This problem has been worked around using the ebMS v3.0 specifications. In order to increase the acceptance of the new conformance profile even more, the profile development was transferred to the independent organization OASIS.
Deliberately designed as an open standard
OASIS deliberately designed AS4 as an open standard . On the one hand, this should simplify market access . On the other hand, AS4 should in the future be able to benefit from the work of the developers who program useful extensions and thus further increase the range of functions. The use of WS- * stacks is predestined for future adjustments.
At the moment, however, there are no concrete plans as to how the expansion of AS4 should take place. There are two alternatives for discussion. OASIS either adapts the profile of AS4 over time or implements specifications that are made on ebMS v3.0.
AS4 does not want to displace AS2 from the market
AS2 is an RFC specification that is considered the global standard in B2B communication. AS2 and software applications based on it are used in many communication processes that use HTTP . AS2 is likely to retain this supremacy for the time being.
The technical committee that created the original profile for AS4 analyzed AS2 and identified the benefits. The committee was inspired by these advantages. However, this is the only connection between AS4 and AS2.
AS4 does not want to displace AS2 from the market, but rather to establish itself as a sensible alternative for clearly defined fields of work. AS4 is explicitly aimed at companies that already rely on web-based services or would like to invest in these services in the near future. This group of customers should be able to use a protocol with AS4 that works just as reliably and simply as AS2.
Areas of application of AS4
AS4 is interesting for markets that use service-oriented architecture for B2B messaging. The health sector , the electronics industry , the retail trade and automotive groups, for example , which already have extensive experience with ebMS software, are showing specific interest . Cisco was one of the first large companies to use AS4. In Australia the SuperStream project uses the new standard, in Japan the JEITA .
Even within the European Union , several projects have already decided on AS4 as the standard protocol. These include the Association of European Gas Transmission System Operators (ENTSOG). ENTSOG has adapted AS4 to its own needs and created an adapted profile. From 2016 this will be a binding protocol for the affiliated companies.
The decisive factor for ENTSOG was that the system could convince with its simple handling and extensive functional equipment. You can use AS4 as a stand-alone communication solution or as part of a business platform. In addition, AS4 enables the implementation of the strict requirements set by the European energy sector.
Other organizations will probably soon follow the ENTSOG model. The European defense, aerospace industry is working on a corresponding application based on ebMS v3.0. The European Committee for Standardization has proposed the protocol in the field of textiles / clothing and shoes as the optimal solution for harmonizing eBusiness.
But AS4 is also gaining ground in the non-commercial sector. Various authorities are considering the use of ebMS v3.0 and AS4 to modernize communication between authorities and companies (G2B) or between companies and authorities (B2G).