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List of documents: |
The third
period of the project has been characterized by the completion of the design
activities (WP 2.4) and the start up of the main tasks of development of the
prototypes (WP 2.5 and WP 2.6). From the point of view of the scheduling of the
activities the difficulties for one of the partner continued until the end of
January and were only partially recovered in the following
months.
In the
period covered by this report the final design of the retailer side of the
system was accomplished and the features of some prototype were discussed
between the partners to validate the design solutions and to better support the
innovative process of sales described in the user requirements. This activities
has produced some revision both in the user requirements and in the design of
the system
Meanwhile
some activities started to disseminate the concepts and approach of Ishtar and
they stimulated interest in the clothing/textile sector.
At the end
of the reporting period the main achievements are:
-
the tools for
colour management have been accomplished (images, applet,
procedure)
-
the set of high
quality images of the fabrics were scanned
-
release 1.0 of
the texture mapping module was accomplished
-
release 1 and 2
of the Body Measurement Assistant were delivered
-
database design
was delivered together with a first pre-release of the
backoffice
-
the first two
releases of the prototype for the electronic-catalogue module were delivered
-
the fabric
booking/availability interface between retailers and supplier that is based on
XML documents was realised and functionally tested .
-
a pre-release of
the user manuals was delivered
-
the set of
models and fabrics for the trial sales (and a part of the commercial agreements)
was defined: (316 fabrics, 11 models of 9 jackets and 2
trousers)
-
the concepts of
the system were presented to conference dedicated to the textile/clothing
sector.
As in the
previous report the planning of activities has a delay in respect of the initial
workplan. In fact Neosis, that plays a relevant and critical role as designer
and developer of the retail side prototype suffered for the lost of a part of
its technical staff (in Portugal the liberalisation of the telephony and
communication services produced a hard competition to gain the best ICT
technician and the larger companies were more effective in their action).
This pause
of activities in Neosis continued until a new staff were reorganised and the
activities started in February. After, the delay about Neosis's tasks was
partially recovered, but other points required more time than
planned:
Furthermore, the translation of the user
requirements and of the new sales process designed in the previous activities
resulted a bit more difficult and took a lot of time, a specific care was
dedicated to have a common comprehension of the process of sale before to
translate it in a commonly accepted approach; secondly, some policies about
concepts very market-sensitive (like prices policies) changed in the companies
(Hitman) and required to change part of the specification and of the database
structure.
This
required a specific effort and the organisation of specific meetings and a
videoconference. For this reason some of the tasks of design and validation
required more resources than planned.
These and
other more specific consideration convinced the pilot user company responsible
for the shop channel of sales (Coin) to cancel from the planned activities the
deployment in the shop of the 3D body scanner machine (this decision was planned
in the WP 2.7). The system has the interface toward the machine but it will not
be deployed in store for all the time of the trial sales. The possibility to
realise a 'spot' deployment for some weeks will be considered after the first
phase of tests, according with the constraints of the sales structure involved
in the tests.
Finally the
increasing interest in the XML technology and the, contemporary, lose of
interest in technology such us EDI is inducing the partners to reconsider the
approach of the order transmission between the retailer and the supplier; the
use of EDI technology appears less and less to be able to guarantee the features
of 'open and connectible' system that are one of the requirements of the project
and an increasing interest is toward the XML solutions. This is a point that
will be faced urgently in the next period of the project.
After June
30th a new meeting has been organised in Bologna and will be in the
next report. However it is important to point out that there the partners
decided to organise a videoconference about the first complete running version
of the system that will be on September 12th and a meeting on
September 28-29 focused on the trial sales activities. A second points will be
the analysis and eventual rescheduling of the trial sales on the Internet
and Sales representatives channels and all the remaining
activities.
A specific
meeting dedicated to the e-catalogue module was organised in Lisbon on February;
a general meeting had place in Bologna (11-12 May 2000) in the ENEA structures;
and a videoconference was organised to demonstrate and discuss the first
prototype of the e-catalogue module.
After the
meetings reports (see references A, D, I) were produced with decision and the
comments of all the partners.
The WEB
site of Ishtar (http://server1.pisa.enea.it/ishtar)
has been updated with new pages and updated information.
The
harmonizing activities was pursued in the period, with a strong contribution to
the production/circulation of documents and the planned scheduling has been
adapted and reorganised to meet the evolution of the project. A specific goal
was to create the conditions to recover the delay of the project maintaining the
cohesion of the partners.
-
WP 2.1,
selection of technologies
-
WP 2.2, adapting
available technologies
-
WP 2.3 customer
and market requirements
The
hardware and software components of the system were established (defining the
architecture and versions of the server, see reference A,
I).
The overall
system architecture was accomplished, the database was reorganised and the
design was detailed (see reference B).
A specific
attention was dedicated to the Customer database (re-named 'Backoffice' of the
system) to help the management of the data both to load the catalogue and to
monitor and manage the orders.
User
interface (behaviour and organisation of the navigator
module)
A lot of
activities were dedicated to the logic organisation of the Interface and to
optimise the appearance of models and fabrics (see reference C). A specific test
page was realised in the Ishtar web site for simulating image sizes and user's
behaviour (http://server1.pisa.enea.it/Ishtar/test/ippsa_Tests.asp).
In the
Lisbon meeting (February) the graphical line of the interface was presented and
finally approved in the meeting of Bologna (see reference I, J,
K)
A simulator
was realised with PowerPoint and presented in the videoconference (April
17th 2000, connecting Bologna, Mestre, Lisbon and Munich) to validate
the navigation approach of the system (see reference G).
The policy
of price (algorithms and data structure to calculate them were redesigned
according with new needs of the pilot users.
The order
processing system was detailed and the interface designed (protocols and XML
data formats).
Further,
the rules to check input errors and to test the body measures against the data
about model sizes were re-thought; together with a new set of measurements that
were also codified (see reference D).
Hitman has
detailed the modification needed to support the orders though its internal
information management system.
The
front-end system to receive and send information (XML files) for fabric
availability and booking was realised, while the changes in the internal
information system to automatically support the order process did not started.
For this reason in a first phase of the trial tests, the system will require the
action of human operators to activate the process (see references
G).
The XML
documents to realise booking and check availability were built and approved (see
reference H).
This
package was developed realising two release of the prototype of the retailer
side of the system (model and fabric browsing, sizing, order construction) and
working on the interface between this and the other modules (Body Measurement
Assistant, Colour management system, Texture mapping, order processing) that are
near to be accomplished.
A first
version of the Texture mapping module has been accomplished, but some problems
arising from the quality of images and the search for the optimisation between
sizes of the images, effort to maintain the catalogue and faithful appearance of
the textured models suggested to realise a second version that is under
development.
The BMA
module was accomplished but while inserting it in the system some problems of
interface raised and now a third release is being
developed.
The same
happened for the calibration and visualisation applets that were accomplished
and required to fix some bugs.
Presently
the first pre-release is working in http://neoshop2.neosis.pt , it presently
is connected with the BMA module and the colour calibration
applet.
Analogously
the first pre-release of the backoffice system is working at http://neoshop2.neosis.pt/ishman to
help the industrial pilot user to upload the first set of data (please do not
try to load anything it). Its interface will be reorganised to facilitate the
uploading operations.
A part of
the test data (data not related with the seasonal set of information about
garment and fabrics) was uploaded in the system.
A
pre-release of the user documentation has been written and used to test the
Backoffice (see reference R).
The
functional and integration tests of all the modules have begun and revealed
points to be fixed or enhanced.
We expect
for the next reporting period to realise an intense activity of
test.
The partner
established a framework that will be translated in a formal agreement about the
maintenance and evolution of the system after the end of the
project.
Neosis
declares that they will sale systems that will be an adaptation of the Ishtar
concepts to the needs of their customers and not an exact replication of the
system.
The
definition of a framework of co-operation between Neosis and Lectra to sale the
whole system together appeared too much difficult because of the different sales
approach of the two companies, while some co-operations could be established on
a case-by-case basis.
Commercial
basis were discussed for the trial sales and an agreement was written between
Coin and Hitman, in the next future also Hitman and AlFerano should do the
same.
No more
activities were undertaken before to have the final release of the system
completely tested in the pilot sites.
Participation to the conference 'Internet
Imaging' in San José (23 – 26 January 2000) to present the concepts of the
architecture of the high quality image catalogue (a paper was published from
that conference as reported in the previous report).
Participation (and presentation of the project)
to a conference in the framework of the project Medressa (the only cost for the
project were in labour, while the travel costs were funded by the Medressa
project) in Egypt to promote European technology in the south of the
Mediterranean Sea.
Participation to the international conference
ITIT (Como, march 23-24th), organised by ASCONTEX, Italian centre of
services for the Textile industries with the co-operation of Euratex (European
association of Textile industries).
A first
brochure to present the project has been prepared (see reference
S).
Organization of the meeting in Bologna and of
the multipoint videoconference, participation to the meeting in Lisbon;
monitoring of the discussion about the database and user interface organisation;
activity of reporting and problem resolution; maintenance of the Ishtar web site
supporting the project (http://server1.pisa.enea.it/ishtar).
Image
quality:
Image
architecture and development of the architecture for faithful representation of
the fabrics:
-
setting up of
specifications for the images and for the procedure to browse the images
(together with Coin and Hitman)
-
definition and
test with a simulator on the web of the concepts of the user interaction with
the images of models and fabrics (http://server1.pisa.enea.it/Ishtar/test/ippsa_Tests.asp).
-
quality image
scanning procedure, applet for the calibration of the monitor for internet user
(without dedicated hardware), applet for faithful visualisation of images
(through the subcontractor CNR-ITIM) (see reference L, P)
-
acquisition of a
set of 140 images of fabric with three scale of resolution (through the
subcontractor CNR-ITIM)
Further
ENEA participated all the activities regarding design and validation of the
system and the activities about the commercial agreement on the results of the
project.
Further
ENEA promotes the made-to-measure concepts and the Ishtar project creating
awareness with the participation in specific initiatives of the textile/clothing
industries (Igofast conference, activities of projects involving the major
Italian industries).
ENEA
prepared a first brochure to present the project.
Target: implement pilot software platform for testing
and training purposes
Project
coordination work:
participation in Bologna meeting. Report and presentation of status. Discussion
about steps to take and necessary activities with respect to the timing of the
project.
-
coordination of
the activities concerning the WP with the other partners
-
test AlFerano
pilot WEB site
o
sum up of requirements and presentation to the partners
o
check up visual representation of products/garments via
Internet
o
collect experience in e-business with tailor made
products
-
negotiate commercial agreement with the project
partners
In the six month in
reference, has been turned the technical survey for the passage from a
stand-alone configuration of BMA applicative – as it has been presented to the
Partners at the Munich meeting – to a configuration operating in browser
environment, to the realization of the real program.
This program has included
a set of structural changes that has taken on account the migration to the
different operative environment (IE5 and Netscape), as well as of some expressed
exigencies by the Partners, in reference to a simply “transportability” and
above all to the possibility to bring adjournments to the characteristic
parameters of the measurements control system, as exposed later on.
The developed modules by
Cad Modelling have been the following.
1. Module for the manual
introduction of the anthropometrics dates: user’s interface and guide for the
body measurement taking (ref § 1.5 and part of the § 1.3 of doc.
ADO-003Block-ben3(1).doc);
2. Module of adequate
anthropometrical measurements control (ref. § 1.1 of doc.
ADO-003Block-ben3(1).doc);
3. Module for Size and Drop
search, “CERCATAGLIA/DROP”, in reference to the anthropometrical measurements
(ref. 1.2 of
doc. ADO-003Block-ben3(1).doc);
4. Module of stand alone
measurement and automatic Identification (ScanFit® system; § 0 of doc.
ADO-003Block-ben3(1).doc);
5. Module of Anthropometrical
identification following the Classification method of Cad Modelling (ScanFit®
system; § 0 of doc. ADO-003Block-ben3(1).doc);
6. Module for local printing
of the anthropometrical schedule.
In particular, for what
concerning the point 1., in opposite to what originally foreseen by the project
(module at charge of Neosis), Cad Modelling has asked to develop also this
module
considering the fact that the interaction of this part with the other
modules described at the points 2. 3. 4. 5. and 6. is very strong, and its
development would be resulted optimised only if conduced in integrated way with
these other parts.
This way, the macro module
realized by Cad Modelling – that for convenience we call globally BMA and that
includes what described in all the previous six points – interacts with the
principal program (Navigator) through a record that identify the Customer using
a customer_code given by the Server. This record contains all the
anthropometrical information, that will have been digitised manually or, if
present in the sales point, coming from the automatic system.
These measures will be
subjected to the examination of the adequate control and CERCATAGLIA/DROP
modules.
Activity Description
End
date
|
2.4.3 2.4.7 |
Customer DB This DB was often
discussed with main Partners and remade to satisfy information to be
stored
and
to obtain the required simplicity. The agreement was an
acceptable compromise; activity recently ended has defined the minimum
tools
and queries necessary for Customers’
Personal DB (data and access keys) analysis and maintenance.
|
End of May |
|
2.4.1 2.4.7 |
Orders (activity mainly in collaboration with Hitman) Many times Orders
was
argument of discussion, not only for data but also for different
aspects regarding information’s exchange between
Retailer and Supplier. The work
re-described
the information’s flow and re-analyses some detailed
aspects with particular attention to operations and time sequences. In
details: Fabric maintenance Fabric availability
verifications to be loaded at the beginning of the work-day and to be
inspected during the day according to Garments selection, Colours
simulation and sales activity Fabric booking and
un-booking Fabric block and
un-block -
Cleaning activities for non finished operation -
Accuracy in defining the amount of fabric needed for
“groups” of Garments and consequently the impact on stocks.
Garment data Discussions about Tables and DB proposed by Neosis The problem of “Price Table” and “Garment
identification and Coding”. -
Definition of different logics for
obtain the Sales Price in case of Jacket and in case of Suit -
Garments coding in respect of Gruppo Coin’s
rules Data flow
for
Orders Operations. Definitions and
formalism for the use of FTP Server and Client to be used for stock
verifications and stocks maintenance. Samples of XML
coding . Order Transmission Definition of
principles for Order exchange between Retailer and Supplier Redesign of Flat
file and re-discussions about information to be send to Supplier -
Order DB: description, design, most important items,
management -
Order flow verification – Order posted – Order
taken EDI transformation
and annex: aspects that involve Orders in relation to XML that became a
standard and that can overcome the necessity of EDI transformation.
Respect of Standards. Order DB:
statistical analysis Definition and
samples of what is to produced as tool for the Orders’ portfolio analysis
just for System
Administrator then for Sales Personnel. |
End of May End of June End of June End of June This part is in
progress (in progress) End of June |
|
2.6 |
Catalogue Review of Catalogue
logics. Definition of
Images’ characteristics: -
dimensions for thumbs nails -
dimensions for standard image -
dimensions for high definition and quality Images for
Rendering Operations. -
dimensions and characteristics of Sketch’s
images Discussion
about
layout pages and graphical aspects. Garments Images Acquisition of digital
images starting from real samples of garments sent by Hitman. Activity for
resizing images and tests for obtain the best quality according to
different images’ dimensions. Trial for
better
scanning operations and images. Fabric Images Import of Fabric
images produced by CNR-MI. Trials and test of
scanning
system and scanning quality regarding Fabrics. |
End of March Started in March and
activity in progress Same as above |
|
4.1.16 |
Back Office (in collaboration with Hitman, ENEA and Neosis) Participation to
Back Office design and description. Test activity and
discussion . Proposed modifications and different solutions for some
parts. |
During May to the
end of
June (in progress) |
|
4.1.16 |
Navigator (in collaboration with Hitman and Neosis) Participation
to the
definition of logics and most important parts description. Redefinition and
deeply description of work flow for in shop activities. Sectioning of the
navigation. |
February May and June
(activity in progress) |
|
2.4.1 2.4.9 |
Measures (with Hitman collaboration) and Measurements Revision and
collaboration
about
Measurement’s process and rules defined by Hitman and
CadModeling. Re-analysis of
defined measures; we add new qualification codes for: -
Group measures for show them on the same Navigator’s
page -
Define theirs sequence on the Navigator’s page -
Assign mandatory flag. Meeting with Cad
Modelling for verify Scanfit Machine and the real possibility of
installation into Coin’s Shops. Valuation Activity
to obtain impressions of use of this machine used by Other Retailers. Discussions about
some aspects of Measurement and Functionality of Software Modules
developed by Cad Modelling. |
From March to
June |
|
……… |
Rendering Software Driving activity for
obtain a real web-version of the “Portrait” software product. Definition of rules,
technical constrains, organisational aspects. Test of the first
version – decision of changing launching commands – construction of
ASP page to be inserted into Navigator. Revision of logics
and boundary of
the new software version to be developed for remote
Rendering Operation using Internet connections. Internal
organisational and technical difficulties of DGS (the third Party in this
activity) have produced (in the past and fairly now) an anxiety and critical
impact
for the project. Last dead line is at
the end of July. The product version
that we use now is sufficient for our scope but, at the moment, it’s not
stable. We directly
developed different software modules for overcome DGS problems with the
intention to speed up the whole project (for these aspects). |
January February June (activity in
progress) |
|
General Activity |
General Project Activities Intense mailing activity - discussions
– exchange of documents and files. Documents
Preparation for and Participation to Bologna Ishtar
Meeting Meetings with DGS
about Rendering Software Product and annex problems Different meetings
with Hitman, Cad Modelling Meeting Coin-Hitman
: commercial people was involved for obtain agreement, solutions,
compromises, planning, prices, support materials and
responsibilities. |
during all the period May from Jan. to June from Jan. to June June |
|
Promotion
Activity |
Ascontex Meeting in Como Material and
documents preparation for this Meeting and participation as Speakers for
Ishtar Project
|
23-24 of March |
Activity from the document
ACTIVITY
End
date
2.4.1 Sizing
30/05/2000
Discussion with COIN about sequence picture appear on the
Definition of what field must be on the forms
Preparation of list of Acronym for sizing entities according with Hitman
industrial process
new rules to obtain the drop and stature from table CERCATAGLIA
Orders and garment data
Total revision of the DB for these entities. New rules to obtain price
and cost for the Suits
2.5.5 Analysis
and construction of the prototype for fabric booking
25/04/2000
With NIKOS company installation in Hitman of the FTP server
and definition together with COIN of the transactions to update the
availability database in Hitman.
Meeting with COIN to discuss about customer database , acronym
Construction and the XML files .
24/02/2000
Meeting with Coin to discuss about the construction a
parameter
26/05/2000
Field in the entity Acronym Model for drive the showing and
The management the data for measures
Mailing activity - translation – documents to prepare it .
30/06/2000
2.6
Construction of the prototype for the retailers
30/05/2000
Validation together with COIN of the Catalogue Software and of the
Customer database , relation on this and reorganisation of the data.
Meeting in CNR with Mrs Schettini to see the result on fabrics
scanning with the Hitman
technical expert about fabric.
02/06/2000
2.6.9
Preparation of the images of sketches model selected to send COIN
30/06/2000
2.7.5 Trial
transmission with NEOSIS of records about booking/unbooking,
30/06/2000
block/unblock of fabrics and update of the database on the server_ftp of
Hitman
Use the Navigator , trial logic flows , discuss and redefine some
Part of shop activities.
Use of BackOffice to insert the data for catalogue
30/06/2000
Trial data for Fabric, Garments, configure, measure, CERCADROP table
Arrange the data with COIN e NEOSIS , prepare data set to fill in
Back office ( fabrics and CERCADROP table data )
At present again trial mode.
Only for booking an so on , discussion with Nikos, Coin
30/06/2000
Neosis
about result and transmission on the database on the
Hitman server .
3.1
Meeting with COIN people for commercial agreement about model
Fabrics' price on so on
07/06/2000
In this period Lectra
participated the meeting in Bologna but did not have specific tasks to
outperform.
For this reason its cost
statement is lacking in this report.
Considerations
We had some delays in the
ISHTAR project execution especially in the end half part of 1999. Some of those
delays had a reasonable explanation in the 2nd
project report. Problems related with the year 2000 consumed a huge percentage
of Neosis' human resources. Technician’s scarcity made the work market much more
aggressive and Neosis lost some important technicians in the last months of 1999
and early months of 2000. Simultaneously the recruitment of new IT technicians
was difficult because there was a lack of people in the market, and the number
of IT companies grew very fast, specially in the telecommunications sector. In
the first half part of 1999 we had in Portugal 4 (four) telecommunication
companies and by the end of 1999 we had 11 (eleven) ones, excluding the spin off
of the first ones. Those companies absorbed all IT people available with very
high salaries.
Due to the above-described
situation, in the third semester we allocated to ISHTAR a substantial NEOSIS IT
work force trying to recover all the delays and we implemented additional
working force in all work packages. Fortunately we have recovered a lot of time
and parts of the developments are accomplished just in time for the retailers
summer tests.
Because there are a lot of NEOSIS engineers working inside the ISHTAR
project sometimes we have some problems in the integration modules process
because we work faster than some of the other partners, becoming more difficult
to recover time.
In the next points you can
find detailed documentation in form of tables and schedules that describe the
ISHTAR NEOSIS high activity during the semester object of this report. Some of
this high activity will be continued during the 4 rd semester.
NEOSIS people allocated to the ISHTAR project
The following table shows
NEOSIS allocate people in the project, the number of work hours of each person
and its distribution in months.
Mrs Isabel Correia left
NEOSIS in the end of March. Mr Carlos Carvalho ( carvalho@neosis.pt ) started working
since 10 of May in NEOSIS and has had an active work in the project being
responsible for the administrative procedures in the project.
Also among the technical
people some changes took place. Mrs Eunice Lee Silva left NEOSIS in January. At
the same time Mr Joviano Silva substitute Mrs Eunice Lee. Mr Joviano ( joviano@neosis.pt ), analyst and
system engineer, is responsible for all it concerns the data base
design and XML modules. Mr Nuno Fonseca has started working since March and Mr
Alexander Yip since
April. Mr Nuno Fonseca (nfonseca@neosis.pt ), analyst and
system engineer, is the responsible person for the catalogues maintenance and
development. Mr Alexander Yip ( ayip@neosis.pt ),
analyst and system engineer, is the responsible person for the Backoffice
development and maintenance.
Some other people have
participated actively in the ISHTAR project like Mr Sergio Santos, Internet
Senior programmer. Mr Carlos Luz, Mr Pedro Correia and Mr Luis Filipe, all
Internet developers, who were working and developing several things under
co-ordination of Mr Nuno Fonseca and Mr Alexander Yip.
Mr Fernando Milhano ( fmilhano@neosis.pt ) Internet and
E-commerce senior specialist, and Networking Engineer, is the official technical
co-ordinator of this project in NEOSIS and has allocate 80% of its time in this
semester to the ISHTAR project, designing, developing and co-ordinating the
NEOSIS Ishtar activities.
|
|
Jan 2000 |
Feb 2000 |
Mar 2000 |
Apr 2000 |
Mai 2000 |
Jun 2000 |
Total |
|
Project manager |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isabel Correia |
30 |
15 |
30 |
|
|
|
75 |
|
Carlos Carvalho |
|
|
|
|
20 |
30 |
50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technical Manager |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fernando Milhano |
120 |
125 |
115 |
125 |
110 |
80 |
675 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technical people |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eun. Lee Silva |
58,50 |
|
|
|
|
|
58,50 |
|
Joviano Silva |
104 |
135 |
135 |
117 |
135 |
78 |
704 |
|
Nuno Fonseca |
|
|
84,5 |
117 |
135 |
135 |
471,50 |
|
Alexandre Yip |
|
|
|
117 |
135 |
135 |
387 |
|
Sergio Santos |
|
135 |
135 |
117 |
135 |
135 |
657 |
|
Carlos Luz |
|
|
135 |
117 |
135 |
135 |
522 |
|
Pedro Correia |
|
|
135 |
117 |
135 |
135 |
522 |
|
Luis Filipe |
|
|
135 |
117 |
135 |
|
387 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4509 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table I - hour/man/month project allocation
3 . Allocation per project work package
The following table shows
the allocation hour/man per work package.
|
|
WP 2.3 |
WP 2.4 |
WP 2.6 |
WP 2.7 |
WP 3.1 |
WP 4.2 |
Total |
|
Work in Previous
Semesters |
180 |
272 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
452 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Project
Manager * |
|
42 |
64 |
18 |
|
1 |
125 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technical Manager |
|
416 |
227 |
30 |
|
2 |
675 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technical people |
|
1070 |
2030 |
577 |
--- |
32 |
3709 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
180 |
1800 |
2321 |
625 |
|
35 |
4961 |
Table II - Allocation
hour/man per
work package
Project manager allocation
is based in the ratio of number of man/hour per package
|
|
Total Hours |
Hours used |
% of conclusion |
|
WP
2.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WP 2.4 |
|
|
|
|
- Overall System Design Architecture |
450 |
252 |
100 % |
|
- Design E-Catalogue |
1050 |
976 |
100 % |
|
- Design Interfaces Cat towards |
300 |
300 |
100 % |
|
|
|
|
|
WP 2.6 |
|
|
|
|
-
Catalogue Sw development |
1800 |
1691 |
94 % |
|
-
Construction of
Customer db |
300 |
160 |
53 % |
|
-
Packaging of the application and
documentation |
750 |
470 |
63 % |
|
|
|
|
|
WP 2.7 |
|
|
|
|
- Functional
tests, measurement assistance ,cm, texture mapping, order system, supplier
internal system |
375 |
310 |
83% |
|
- Integration
of the e-catalogue and cm/as/re n modules |
225 |
200 |
89% |
|
- Integration
test of the retailer side sub system |
150 |
115 |
77% |
|
|
|
|
|
WP 3.1 |
|
|
|
|
-IPR-
Analysis of cost/benefits about the copyright, protection of SW and HW |
14 |
0 |
0% |
|
|
|
|
|
WP 4.2 |
|
|
|
|
- Ada –
Adaptation of the electronic catalogue, customer db to the pilot site
AlFerano |
75 |
17 |
23% |
|
- Adc –
Adaptation of the electronic catalogue and customer db to the pilot site
COIN |
75 |
15 |
20% |
Table III - Total hours
spend / Percentage of conclusion per package
4 . Detailed description of works in third semester
Period between 02/01/2000
to 30/06/2000
WP 2.4 – ( System and design )
WP 2.4.1 – Overall system design architecture
NEOSIS has started working
in this module since the end of 1999. But the major work ( 85% ) in this line of
activities is to be done during this semester. Neosis spent a considerable time
in this point because we needed to implement modifications and changes to
initial definition of the user requirements. Some of these modifications were
introduced after the Lisbon meeting in 10 and 11 of February. In this meeting
important things concerned to Data Base design were changed and redesign after
that.
At the moment this point
is 100 % completed
WP 2.4.2 – Design E-catalogue
The architecture, on the
retailer side, is designed to support the three system scenarios (Internet
catalogue, Sales Shop Assistant, Sales representatives). It is our aim reducing
excess, implement security of the transaction in a reasonable trade-off for
costs and level of safety, to be modular and to comply, 100%, with a WEB / thin
client architecture that reduce the maintenance and installation costs. The
client works in a standard Internet web browser with some plug-ins and Java
applets. The tools are state of art, and are developed using ASP ( Active Server
Pages) as well as scripts and components. Because this, the system is perfectly
tuned for Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 and 5.0. The portability is
also present using ASP emulators for UNIX. These ASP emulators work faster than
PERL CGI approach. Some additional work was spent in the web design line
definition. The first approach to the web design line definition was made before
in 1999, however difficulties in the definition of representative briefing of
different retailers market were overcome in 2000. Neosis made this briefing
based in several dispersed ideas from all the retailer partners. NEOSIS
presented, at the Lisbon meeting, its new web design line definition.
Some additional work was
made for the catalogue sales representative design, because the previous user
requirements stated that this catalogue needed to use Microsoft Access database
instead of Microsoft SQL Server. In order to implement off line work operation
and synchronisation with the main server it is needed additional work design
definitions and additional architecture.
NEOSIS also designed the
ISHTAR BackOffice interface. This interface was designed to control and manage
the ISHTAR catalogue. It allows, in a dynamic way, to define preferences,
personalization, product categories, range of measures, etc., being based in the
concept of independence between product categories. This BackOffice it’s
designed in a way that allows each retailer to control 100% of its catalogue.
After the meeting at Bologna 20 and 21 of May, all partners discussed a special
need for catalogue collaboration, maybe, only in ISHTAR project.
In different languages the
producer will be responsible to fulfil all data related with the products,
description, images, etc. Each retailer using this data only needs to change the
product price. For this special need we have to redesign the BackOffice in order
to support different languages and currencies based in different databases. We
maintained the initial concept of one catalogue to one BackOffice, because it is
the only way to build a package totally independent and easily managed.
This point was 100%
accomplished.
WP 2.4.3 – Design Interfaces Cat Towards
The ISHTAR interface
architecture achieved, with a high degree of modularity allows the interactivity
between the modules, and it was designed in order to have an electronic
catalogue working with or without the modules of Colour Management, Measure
Assistant, Texture Mapping, Order System and the Automatic Measuring Machine. In
the final packing process, NEOSIS packed three different catalogues with the
respective ISHTAR BackOffice: Sales representatives catalogue, Shop assistant
catalogue and Internet Catalogue
This point was 100 %
developed.
WP 2.6 – ( Construction of the prototype for the retailers
)
WP 2.6.1 – Catalogue software development
This point had high
priority in development proposes because the preparation of the catalogues data
depended on the availability of tools resulting from this point. The
considerable delay presented in this point, according with the submission
propose, had a direct relation with the user requirement definition (WP 2.3) and
the architecture design ( WP 2.4 ). The parallel developing of this point
starting in March evolved considerable Neosis human resources. We didn’t recover
all of the delay, but we have recovered a substantial part of it. This point is
almost accomplished (94%). The Internet catalogue is accomplished and already
working. The sales shop assistant catalogue is accomplished and already working
in 1024 x 768 pixels resolution without the texture mapped module. This module
was not available in the date of this report. The sales representative catalogue
is accomplished and already working based in Microsoft SQL Server, however we
need to migrate into Microsoft Access previous defined in the initial
requirements. The ISHTAR BackOffice catalogue is developed and ready for tests
and debugs. This ISHTAR BackOffice is full web enable and all function is
supported using only a standard browser. With this we can reduce maintenance and
enable the possibility of co-operative work. This is important because the
manual process of a catalogue implementation is very exigent in terms of time
consuming. In future ISHTAR catalogue exploitation, the ISHTAR BackOffice may be
presented with some kind of redundant module because an ERP System can make the
management of such catalogue. But this ISHTAR BackOffice found its target market
in small medium companies with less knowledge and investments in IT systems. But
we note that the open architecture of the ISHTAR system easily supports
adaptations in order to work with external systems. Some changes are needed and
they will be made in the first weeks of July after the changes in order to
support several languages and currencies catalogues. At last, NEOSIS will
provide two different BackOffice’s, one single catalogue other several
language/catalogue.
Different kind of
development is made using ASP components for integrate the XML modules in order
to interchange information with the retailers BackOffice’s. The ISHTAR System
uses the necessary components for booking fabric garments, to place orders and
check its availability. In the design of this tools NEOSIS made an option to use
DCOM objects, now called COM+ in Microsoft Windows 2000. The perfect integration
in the Microsoft Windows Server architecture takes advantage of the last
technology, optimising the use of resources of ISHTAR Server. We choose IIS/ASP
as the front-end platform, for the accomplishment of the ISHTAR Pilot, with COM
or DCOM as the framework component, respectively. This choice was motivated by
the fact that the use of a Windows-based environment was already decided, and
also because this type of front-end and framework is readily available in such
an environment, and also widely supported by independent software vendors. The
realisation of a DCOM interfaces between front-end and ISHTAR Core, as shown in
figure 1, wasn’t accomplished without problems. IIS security settings seem to
disallow a direct DCOM access, so that a local COM object had to be used as a
front-end stub. Furthermore, this stub object must run in the context of
Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), at the same machine, in order to gain the
required access permissions. The resulting architecture is outlined in Figure below:
|
Figure 1 – Integration of Server-side ISHTAR Components |
Neosis is actively working
in the integration of these components making them simple in order to retailer’s
use in future installation. Developments are almost done, however some tests are
necessary to validate them.
WP 2.6.2 – Construction of customer database
Developments around this
point are only 53% completed. The database design and all things related to the
customer data store were already implemented. The presentation and the
manipulation of this data are not developed yet, because they are less priority.
However all information related to clients is stored and can support analytical
single information views as well as crossed information views. It’s possible in
future with right tools search to have a measurement system for customer
preferences, their kind of personalization’s, kind of fabrics and materials,
etc. Also out of the scope of this ISHTAR project phase is possible to link this
database directly to CRM (Customer Relationship Management) System.
The beginning of the
Interface development for this database is schedule for July 2000 and in August
a great part of this point will be accomplished.
WP 2.6.3 – Packaging of the application and
documentation
We need to develop several
different packages, one per retailer. For The Internet catalogue we are
developing the first packaging. For Sales Shop catalogue we wait for the
texture-mapped system to implement it. For sales representative we need to wait
for the integration of the MS Access database. The packaging of these catalogues
is not easy because we need to install the system inside MS IIS (Microsoft
Internet Information System) system. As a consequence of this, all the
installation process requires a lot of Microsoft NT Server and IIS knowledge
from the installer people. As for the manuals, the first version of the ISHTAR
BackOffice is made, this is the largest manual because the BackOffice has a lot
of interface. The catalogue manual presented and accessible via catalogue is 50%
developed. The installation manuals are also in developing process now. Some of
these documents are very expensive and require final refinements.
This point is 63%
developed and NEOSIS hopes to accomplish it, during the month of July.
Wp 2.7 – ( Functional tests and integration tests
)
WP 2.7.1 – Functional Tests, Measurement Assistance (cm),
Texture Mapping,
Order
system, Supplier Internal System.
The system test will
include a final check to ensure that the functional requirements have been
properly translated into the system. Pilot users will have the final word about
this subject. At the moment we have only made technical tests around all the
system. A few problems were found inside the measurement module based in
calculation error, and because this we spent some time trying to understand it,
but the partner responsible for it, can solve the problem very fast. The tests with CMS
were well succeeded. NEOSIS texture mapping subsystem was not available for test
at the date of this report, despite all things are prepared for it. In what
concerns the order system, it was tested internally according with the initial
requirements. We are currently waiting for the final tests with the Retailer
System. In what concerns the Supplier Internal System the tests with the
booking, un-booking, actualisation, availability, etc, are running well. The
test made between NEOSIS and Hitman related with the fabric availability and the
interchange of the XML are almost finished and approved. Other things like
booking and un-booking are developed and internally tested but waiting for the
final partner’s validation.
This point is 83 %
developed and the estimate date for its accomplishment it’s in the first half of
July.
WP 2.7.2 – Integration of E-catalogue and cm/ass/re n
modules
A substantial part of
developments concerned to this point are done, waiting only for the availability
of Texture Mapped System. The integration of the E-Catalogue with the “cm”
module is completed and works perfectly. The BMA (Measurement System) is
integrated with the catalogue in the actual version. Some changes in BMA Module
aren’t extremely necessary but welcome to the system, needing an extra work
inside the integration process. This point is 89% accomplished and NEOSIS hopes
to finish it in the first half of July.
WP 2.7.3 – Integration test of the retailer side
subsystem.
Neosis proceeds with
internal working simulation of each retailer catalogue using fictitious data
information. Most of the tests are done, except the real tests after the
installation inside each retailer server and with real data. We consider that
77% of NEOSIS tests in this point are done, but we need to wait for the
installation process to complete it.
WP 3.1 – (Actions and agreement dealing with
IPR)
WP 3.1.1 – IPR – Analysis of cost/benefits about the
copyright protection of the software and hardware.
NEOSIS postponed the
elaboration of this analysis for July, which will be presented in the next
project meeting.
WP 4.2 – ( Adaptation, pilot sites, install and feedback
)
In the initial definition
it’s supposed that the pilot users catalogue is not able to customise the
system. To reduce the risk of some problems, related with the integration inside
internal Information Management Systems, etc., the system has tools that provide
assistance to the customers in creation, management and customisation of the
catalogue presented inside the ISHTAR BackOffice catalogue. Interface can be
easily adapted because all catalogue interfaces are developed in HTML. The
connection to the database is based in open standards as SQL and ODBC and easily
adaptable to connections to third party application of the company Information
Management System. For each pilot user NEOSIS provides a packaging pre
customised compliant with each initial requirements. For this reason some of
NEOSIS work in this point is based in building a packaging pre customised and
after this it works in order to help solving installation problems and also as
help desk and consultation services.
WP 4.2.1 – ADA- Adaptation Of The Electronic Catalogue To
Customer DataBase To The Pilot Site AlFerano.
Based in the initial
requirements AlFerano needs two catalogues with two different needs - Sales
Representatives catalogue and Internet Catalogue. All the catalogues work
connected to the same central server. The sales representative catalogue need to
work in offline mode, because this is necessary an internal server working
inside the laptop. Some special adaptations in each catalogue are made to
reflect the initial requirements. AlFerano needs a server with hosting the
Internet catalogue. Neosis provides the same catalogue hosting in our office.
About the sales representatives, the problem is easy to solve because it is
necessary only to run the set-up program for installing the applications inside
the IIS system. Note that this sales representative uses a laptop running
Microsoft Windows 2000-professional or Microsoft Windows NT workstation 4.0.
Neosis has pre build the
first version of the Internet catalogue and a Sales representative version, but
running in Microsoft SQL server.
WP 4.2.1 – ADA- Adaptation Of The Electronic Catalogue To
Customer Database To The Pilot Site Coin.
The Coin site version of
the catalogue, derivate from the Internet catalogue, but with texture mapped
module active, plus some changes in the options zone in order to control the
orders, status of orders, previous orders and all information about your
clients. Also the BMA module has a different version for support the automatic
size system machine.
4.6 – Other NEOSIS activities in the ISHTAR
project
Lisbon meeting
The Lisbon
meeting in February 10 and 11 was organised by NEOSIS asked both by ENEA and
NEOSIS. This meeting was very important because it clarified a lot of things
about the requirement definition and helped to better tune the architecture
design, especially in the database modularisation process. In this meeting we
had the presence of ENEA, Hitman and NEOSIS. Mr Fernando Milhano, Mr Joviano
Silva and Mrs Isabel Correia represented NEOSIS.
Videoconference
This videoconference was
organised by ENEA and it’s happened in April 17th. During this videoconference NEOSIS presented the
ISHTAR catalogue design to all partners and respective explanation and
considerations about it. It’s possible to found our presentation in ENEA ISTHAR
server. Mr Fernando Milhano, Mr Nuno Fonseca and Mr Joviano represented
NEOSIS
Bologna meeting
This Bologna meeting took place in May 11 and 12 and it was
well organised by ENEA. In this meeting several things were discussed and for
the first time all modules were presented and all partners could contact with
the project evolution. NEOSIS had an active participation in the subjects:
- Live presentation of the catalogue navigation
and discussion (Milhano)
- Presentation of the status of art of the order
processing, sizing in the catalogue and of the interface with other modules
(Milhano first speaker, Angotti, Benatti, Fuchs, Redaelli ).
- Commercialisation agreements (ENEA, Lectra, Neosis, Cad
Modelling)
- Planning of next
activities.
Some things were changed
in this meeting, especially in family suits. AlFerano and Coin decided not to
use the capability of the system to choice different trousers for each suit.
Also, inside the back office some changes were planned for accommodate the
possibility of HITMAN filled an export data contents of the catalogue for each
pilot user in national language. Other benefits and opinions were presented in
order to improve better functionalities to the system.
Mr Fernando Milhano and Mr
Joviano Silva represented NEOSIS in this meeting.
A) AD024-014-Report about the meeting in Lisbon revised
3.doc
B) AD024-017 Database structure final
C) AD024-016 Technical
open issues on multilingual and image
D) AD024-019 Order transaction analysis
E) AD024-020 Report of
the videoconference about the catalogue
F) AD025-001 Order and
booking management in Hitman ,
G) AD025-002 Analysis of order construction and XML records,
H) AD025-006 XML FILES for booking and availability
I) MG011-009 Report of
the meeting in Bologna (11-12 May 2000)
J) MM024-008 Storyboard -
Home page
K) MM024-009 Storyboard - Select fabrics
L) OF022-005 Procedure to
scan fabrics (CNR ITIM)
M) OF024-001 Database structure for filling
N) OF026-001 Features of BMA (Cad Modelling)
O) OF027-001 Decision about body scanner (COIN)
P) PR022-002 Final colour applets
Q) TS026-001 set of fabrics for trial sales
R) US026-001/2 setup and user guides
S) OF051-001-Ishtar in short.doc
About cost statements:
The cost of the personnel
of Enea is subject to two events: the project is requiring a bit more of labour
activities to be accomplished and the cost rate of some of the persons employed
is raised.
The first one is due to
the co-ordination effort that is stronger (and requires more qualified persons)
than planned due to a multiplicity of factors, one of them is the management of
the crisis of human resources of one of the partner and the recovering of all
the related troubles, an other is the effort dedicated to the analysis and
design of the sizing process (the same happened for the personnel of Cad
Modelling that is engaged in the sizing process).
The second one is due to
the career advancement of some of the people engaged in the project that changed
their level of salary from the year 1998 to the year 2000. For this reason the
average cost planned is resulted less then the actual average rate.
In this period Lectra
participated the general activities of the project (like the meeting in Bologna)
and supported the activities of Hitman to test and evaluate the Fitnet 2 module.
Improvements and refinements were adopted for the system in this period.
