Application Analysis
People Tools 8.52: PeopleSoft Search Technology
Introduction
The fast phased developments in mobile and web technology have expanded its basic functionalities and enabled people to connect with anything, anyone, anytime and anywhere through search technologies. Companies such as Google and Facebook are just a few of the well-known brands that use search technologies. Other search engines such as Bing is also investing in the same technology. The use of search technology was not limited to search engines as new applications already made use of search technologies for myriad of purpose. For example, Oracle’s People Tools 8.52 encompasses the framework for PeopleSoft that provides Human Resource Management Systems for manpower inventory, management, deployment, and other search queries. Analysis of this search technology application will involve in-depth evaluation of its functions, characteristics, and intended user. In addition, the architectural patterns used for implementation of the application will also be identified.
Characteristics, Function, and Users
The application is considered as a leader in external application integration. It facilitates complete external integration of standard-based platform referred to as integration broker, which delivers three integration aspects. Overall, the application encompasses integration characteristics defined in its design. The first one is metadata-based integration, which has a life cycle that is easier to manage and develop. Secondly, its runtime platform is equipped with asynchronous and synchronous processing that is tightly integrated. Lastly, the application has adapters that are essential to other key interface such as web, e-mail, and ftp. In addition to its native characteristics, PeopleSoft application can also be integrated to third party applications such as WSDL, XML, REST, SOAP, and WS_Security (Oracle, 2011).
In terms of functions, the application features reporting and analytics apart from the basics of people information search. The application was built using a framework that allow users to be more productive by means of added web-based tools to organize and locate real-time data. PeopleSoft users can also ad-hoc available data in the local network and with the embedded analysis tool delivers the business process straight to the user’s laptop or other mobile devices. Pivot grids, live query and other operational data are published to all end users within the network and can be accessed through web-based platforms. Users of the application are normally from the Human Resources department of organizations, but people from other business processes can also utilize the application for finance, planning, and marketing.
Framework Architecture
With the addition of an SES server, PeopleSoft Internet architecture encompasses the essential element of server topology in which a three-tier pattern was employed. End users using the application are placed in the first level of the framework in which all the queries are originating. The search queries are passed over to the second level, which is the Internet architecture of the application. The exchange process happening in the second level can constitutes a parallel pattern where queries are being processed in the integration broker while the integration gateway deploys the search categories and definitions to aid the integration broker in searching for the query results. In the process, after the search definitions were found, the criteria index points the location of the data result of the query and bring it forward to the Internet architecture providing the search page display. Web and application servers are detrimental in providing the needed interface for the end users. Typically, the application makes use of a database where the definitions are being deployed including the metadata. The Oracle Secure Enterprise Server is the most applicable deployment framework that builds and performs the usual search engine tasks (Oracle, 2011). The three-tier pattern for the application’s framework can be identified as the developer (Oracle), the administrator (integration broker), and the end user
Advantage and Disadvantage
The primary advantage in the application is the use of connected query, which provides the similar interface as SQL. Queries essentially declare exact data against the end user’s search probabilities. It is characterized as predictive search, in which the search words and phrases are evaluated by the integration broker as the end user makes the query and match them against the existing metadata within the stored indexes. These characteristics are typical of generic application architecture. The application appears to have deviated from modeling its software from domain-specific architecture due to disadvantages such as not fitting to existing infrastructure. Enterprises investing search technologies prefers the generic architecture more than domain-specific because of the infrastructure needed to operate the application. Domain-specific software will require enterprise users to put up dedicated infrastructure as opposed to implementing generic architecture, which can be easily integrated into an existing infrastructure.
Recommended Approach
Sensor-controller-actuator approach can be a great choice in application architecture. This is because process variables are being measured accurately which generates relevant analogous signal. The controller on the other hand compares the signal (queries) to its intended set point after which a driver signal will be generated to the actuator, which is flexible enough to change position when needed to correct the process. In a search software architectural design, the components should at least be intuitive enough to analyze mistakes performed during a query in order to deliver the best possible search result instead of relying solely on query recognition.
References
Oracle (2011). PeopleTools 8.52: PeopleSoft Search Technology (E25741_01). Retrieved from docs.oracle.com website: http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E25741_01/psft/acrobat/pt852tpst-b1011.pdf
