Implementation Option 3b - EDIINT:  Legacy EDI Over the Internet, Point-to-Point PTP)

Introduction

EDIINT is an internet specification from the IETF for reliably exchanging structured messages over the internet. It is often used as an extension of Traditional EDI, using the existing back-end application and gateway processes. The difference is that instead of sending data to a traditional VAN, the EDI data is formatted to be sent over the internet as a secure e-mail attachment, and the communications with trading partners are point-to-point.

AS (Applicability Statement) 2, a creation of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), is a specification for dealing with business-to-business communications data that will enable companies to maintain their investment in electronic data interchange technology while getting some of the flexibility of the Internet.

In draft form now (September 2002), AS2 is a standard by which applications transmit EDI or other data, such as XML, over the Internet using HTTP. Like its predecessor, AS1, AS2 specifies the means to connect, deliver, validate and reply to data; it does not concern itself with the content of the EDI document, only the transport.

AS2 essentially creates a wrapper around EDI flat files that enables sending them over the Internet, instead of using a dial-up connection to a VAN (value-added network). AS2 uses Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) whereas the older AS1 uses Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and HTTP.  The advantages of AS2 are that it is a real-time technology, whereas AS1 uses a store-and-forward protocol; the transmission medium is inherently secure, whereas users of AS1 need to encrypt messages; and AS2 supports trading partner agreements (TPAs), which AS1 cannot.In addition, AS2 provides security and encryption around the HTTP packets.

When to Use This Implementation Option

This technology is appropriate wherever you would use legacy EDI, but want to use existing EDI format files and communicate via the internet instead of via a traditional VAN. EDIINT basically takes your legacy EDI file, wraps it in a MIME envelope, encrypts it, and transmits it securely over the internet.

Business User View