Software Components for Internet Based Self-service Consulting Systems

Abstract

This industrial report introduces the web language “*.mss” for the operation of commercial web sites, developed at IF Computer for content management to help authors and for decision support to help users. A web server isolates users from authors in time and space and makes their interaction explicit. *.mss extends this and also separates the tasks of authors into cooperating but independently manageable workload units, e.g. along the responsibilities within an organization. Automatic integration into complete web sites and combination with existing solvers and logic programming is briefly discussed.. An example illustrates the application for a car dealership, shown is cooperation of the people in charge of inventory updates, merchandising, IT services and visual impact. A reference section gives all defined constructs of *.mss and a comparison with other methods for programmed web services.