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Architecture 
Like the Portal, Knowledge Management, and Guided Procedures, Collaboration is part of the SAP NetWeaver usage type EP (Enterprise Portal). From a technical perspective, Collaboration is based on the system components of the portal and Knowledge Management. All participating system components are based on the standard architecture Java 2, Enterprise Edition (J2EE).
The graphic below depicts the fundamental system components that Collaboration is based on and shows the system components that Collaboration consists of.
Below you find descriptions of the system components that are displayed in the graphic.
System Component |
Description |
User Management |
You can manager users and groups in the user management of the J2EE development platform. Access to Collaboration functions and services by users and user groups takes place using the programming interface of user management. The J2EE Engine supports various storage locations for user information. · The default storage location for user data is the database of the J2EE Engine. · You can also use the User Management Engine (UME) to store user data. The UME offers additional functions such as importing users from external systems or replicating users in an SAP system. |
HTMLB |
HTMLB (HTML Business for Java) forms the technical basis of a standard design-orientated page layout. HTMLB provides a full set of easy to use Web controls based on servlets and Java Server Pages (JSP). The components and JSP tags used by developers are translated into HTML commands using renderer classes. |
Component |
Description |
Portal Catalog |
The Portal Catalog (PC) allows you to access the Portal Content Directory (PCD) and to edit portal content objects. The structure of the worksets for rooms (pages and iViews) is defined using the Portal Catalog. See Maintenance of Worksets for Templates in the administration guide. |
Configuration |
This component enables the configuration of components used in the portal. This includes the following settings: · Definition of roles and permissions. · Configuration of Collaboration (specifying backend systems for Groupware integration or for the integration of synchronous services, and so on). |
Navigation Service |
Programming model for defining the navigation in the portal |
System Component |
Description |
Repository Framework |
The repository framework provides the technical basis for KM applications. It includes the central Java classes and interfaces of the Knowledge Management Platform. The repository framework also provides services for dealing with content. Documents are
physically stored in a virtual hierarchy and a namespace in the
repository framework. They can be stored on different systems such as Windows,
Lotus Notes, WebDAV, and HTTP. Access to these systems is controlled using
repository managers. For more information, see |
Content Management |
Content Management
(CM) offers services for managing content in Knowledge Management (KM).
|
Configuration |
This component enables configuration of Knowledge Management. It comprises configuration tasks for Collaboration, Content Management, TREX, UWL, and so on. |
Search and Classification (TREX) |
The Search and
Classification (TREX) component enables various types of search and
classification operations (see |
KM iViews |
KM iViews allow you access to documents, applications, and configuration data from portal pages. The KM platform
contains a set of KM visual controls that can be used for structuring iViews.
For more information, see |
System Component |
Description |
People-Centric Components |
These components provide iViews that can be used in Collaboration and Knowledge Management applications for the collaboration of portal users through services. · The People Picker offers a standard user interface for searching for portal users, user groups, or roles. · The People Renderer offers a standard user interface for displaying portal users in applications. This includes displaying the availability status (using icons), detailed data for users, and available services for collaboration. |
Room Infrastructure |
This component controls the life cycle of rooms. It is contained in both the portal layer and the KM layer. The Room Infrastructure offers functions for editing rooms, such as creating, changing, and deleting them. |
Asynchronous Tools & Components |
This component provides the technical prerequisites for functions that enable asynchronous collaboration between portal users. This includes online discussions, and online management of tasks and documents such as feedback, rating, and comments services. |
Synchronous Collaboration Framework |
This component provides the technical prerequisites for the integration of synchronous services. SAP delivers Real-Time Collaboration as a standard service for synchronous collaboration. You can also integrate synchronous services from third-party providers, such as WebEx online sessions. |
Groupware Framework |
This component enables the integration of e-mail and scheduling services such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino. |
Enterprise Portal Architecture
Knowledge Management
Architecture