General Distributed Architecture for Unified Communications in Heterogeneous OSI Environments

GAUCHO - 2563

Keywords distributed systems architectures

Start Date: 16-JAN-89 / Duration: 30 months

Objectives and Approach

The aim of the GAUCHO project was to demonstrate an open communication system for the exchange of business data. The project integrated independent OSI services into a single service platform providing a high-level API to an EDI application. GAUCHO was targeted on users of PCs and small Unix workstations with limited resources for administration and management of external data communications.

Progress and Results

Key elements of the project were:

analysis of user and network service provider requirements
demonstrating the GAUCHO service platform in distributed interworking implementations communicating over public carrier services
development of an EDI application system aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, by targeting implementations at cheap PCs with the minimum of hardware plug-in boards
prototyping of a relevant subset of OSI application and communication services in operating system environments suitable for SMEs (Unix, MS-DOS); in particular, a remote user agent using the CCITT 1988 P7 protocol, and a remote PC-based directory user agent using X.500
prototyping and validation of the project results (basic services and EDI services) in the demonstrator environments, and interoperability testing against commercial products, where feasible.

Exploitation

The service platform is being offered to small and medium-sized companies as well as public administrations, and integration of EDI and VAN solutions for specific business sectors is part of the exploitation process.

CONTACT POINT

Mr Michael Walsh
DANNET A/S
Blokken 9
DK - 3460 BIRKERØD
tel: + 45/ 45-821600
fax: + 45/ 45-821644

Participants

DANNET A/S - DK - C
FISHER AND LORENZ LTD - UK - P
DIT/UPM - E - P
TELEFONICA SISTEMAS SA - E - P
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS - DK - P

GAUCHO - 2563, December 1993

please address enquiries to the ESPRIT Information Desk

html version of synopsis by Nick Cook