SMS Utility   Lotus Websphere MQ Integrator  

SMS Utility

The SMS System is a utility designed to operate in a stand-alone fashion or to be integrated into an organisation’s other applications. The messaging component allows for immediate on demand processing or for batch processing to run within certain parameters.

The SMS system is an utility designed to operate in a stand-alone fashion or to be integrated into an organisation’s other applications. The messaging component allows for immediate on demand processing or for batch processing to run within certain parameters.

The solution has 5 methods of initiating an SMS

1. Third party direct call on demand via a web service.
2. Third party integration via persistence utilising integration application – Websphere MQ.
3. Mail-in function via a users email message.
4. Web front-end for direct capture, controlled through a user login.
5. Direct write from native Lotus Notes applications or from third party applications via an ODBC connection.

The solution has 3 methods or SMS processing

1. On demand immediate sending.
2. Delayed back-end processing.
3. Bulk email service processing.

The application supports

1. Independent functionality through a browser utility on a Web 2.0 platform.
2. Integration to Websphere MQ.
3. Email collaboration services.

The application formats the message into a format that can be used by the cellular service providers.Essentially this means that the organisation can elect to send SMS’s in a standard format from any application.

Web Services

The web service available provides a standard WSDL to the third party application.

When the web service is utilised, this will post the message either directly to the cellular provider or queue the message dependant on the parameters sent to the web service.

Websphere MQ

The Websphere MQ utility consists of a consumer utility that integrate either into a Websphere MQ client or a Websphere MQ Manager.

When the message arrives from MQ, the message is processed to the SMS manager and the SMS manager processes the message on a scheduled run, utilising the SMS managed service agent.

The benefit of the Websphere MQ process is persistence in the process and allows for failure reports to determine when an SMS has failed to leave the third party application.

In addition, through the MQ processes, any failed messages are queued and stored for later delivery.

Mail-in Functionality

The mail in service creates an email address for the users to email to. The cell phone number is entered in the subject line and the message in the body of the email. The email arrives in the application, is formatted and queued for delivery.

Web Front-End

The browser based, web front-end uses the following features

• Access control module to control user activity when logging in.
• Allows the user to enter the cellular number for SMS utility.
• Allows the users to send the SMS immediately.

Native and ODBC Integration

With this level of integration, the developer can connect directly to the application and post the message for processing.

On Demand vs Queued Delivery

The on demand features the following

• Immediate delivery of the SMS message.

The queued delivery features the following

• Large volume processing that is managed by the SMS manager as opposed to the third party application.
• Integration using an integration utility which means that persistence can be ensured.
• Parameterised utility that allows the configuration of message delivery within specified times.

Reporting

The system provides reporting to the administrator

1. Date and time of delivery.
2. Volume of messages.
3. Failed messages and queued messages.
4. Message delivery status from the ISP.

Lotus Websphere MQ Integrator

Standard interface between Domino and Websphere MQ - allows different formatting and multiple processing.

The Blue Tree Lotus Websphere MQ Integrator is a standard set of utilities that allows Domino and Websphere MQ to communicate in an easy and seamless fashion.

The utility includes:

• Functionality with the Websphere MQ Client of Websphere MQ Manager
• Built-in persistence for use with the Websphere MQ Client
• Send and receive with confirmation responses
• Reporting utility to track failed and returned messages
• Use of Java in the application
• Supports Domino version 6, 7, 8 and 8.5
• Automated archiving utility

The application allows the client to work with Websphere MQ without the issues around set-up and configuration in Domino.  In addition, the process of sending and receiving messages is defined for the Lotus Notes developers and the mechanism for sending the messages is standard.  The application does allow the rules in each application to control the tasks and messages that are sent.