AbsoluteINTERACT is a software product that is used to implement self-service and teller applications in retail banking branch delivery and ATM networks.

This product consists of a number of aspects:

• A runtime process engine that executes the customer transactions that an institution provides to it's customers.
• A software development kit (SDK) that is used to define, implement, and test the application.
• A core set of processes that incorporate best-practices in retail banking. This core set of processes provides an institution with a starting point for implementing their own proprietary customer processes.
• A set of canned off-the-shelf applications suitable for use in legacy network environments e.g. NDC, 91x.
• A set of message translators that enable support for various industry standard financial messaging systems such as IFX, ISO 8583, etc.
• A set of network adapters that enable support for various network topologies and security mechanisms.

Runtime Process Engine

The core of the product is the Runtime Process Engine. This process engine is based on the concept of a virtual machine that executes a process definition, modeled using UML Activity Diagrams and stored using XML. The process definition (or Interaction Definition) is split into a business process, which is independent of the channel executing it, and a channel process, which deals with the specifics of the delivery channel in question.

The process engine concept provides a number of advantages:

• Business processes and rules are externalized. This means that they can be updated quickly and easily.
• Since there are a finite number of business execution paths, the business application can be tested and verified in its entirety.
• Business processes can be altered at execution time, enabling a dynamic customer interaction or personalized experience.
• Deployment of business processes, and updates to these processes, have minimal impact on a live network.

An SDK is provided that is used to develop the application. The SDK provides the following facilities:

• Use case and business process modeler.
• A graphical process definition editor, used to edit the business and channel processes that will be executed on the runtime engine. This process editor then compiles the XML process definition.
• A screen editor for testing the look and feel of the customer screens.
• Configuration editor.
• Message queue monitor.
• Data context viewer.
• Trace viewer and analyzer for analyzing runtime trace information.
• Development wizards (for developing the actions that perform the business functions in the application).
• Host service tool suite - for testing adapters and translators.
• Platform configurator and tester, used to test the configuration of the hardware platform.
• Key management tools.
• Graphical financial institution table (FIT) editor.
• Code signing and certificate management tools.
• Product user and reference documentation.

In order to speed up the development of a new application, the product provides a set of "best practice" process definitions called Base Applications. These applications are provided in source code form and are the starting point of a typical application development project.

There are currently 3 base applications:

• Cash dispensing self-service.
• Non-cash self-service or banking kiosk.
• Branch teller.

Legacy Network Support

Traditional ATM networks utilized low-level device interaction protocols. Each of the major vendors brought out variants of this device interaction protocol based on similar principles. Hence the legacy protocols NDC, 91x, DDC, etc are all very similar in operation.

AbsoluteINTERACT can be purchased bundled with an application that supports one of these protocols natively. These applications only require minimal customization and are integrated into the network without network modification.

Message Translators

Internally, applications that are built with AbsoluteINTERACT manipulate data that is structured using IFX (i.e. in XML). In order to integrate the application into a network, translators are provided to translate IFX based data into the messaging protocol used within that network, for example ISO8583.

Self-service systems typically operate on a wide-area network, with some machines being connected into the branch network, whilst others are connected using a variety of wide-area networking technologies and security mechanisms.

Network adapters are provided with the product that enable the machine to be connected into a variety of networking systems, such as TCP/IP, X.25, asynchronous dial-up, GPRS, web services, SSL etc.

Absolute Systems provides a full training course on developing applications using AbsoluteINTERACT .