Exhibit Hall Enterprise System

Abstract

Customer is based start-up venture funded in 1998 to focus on delivering Web-based management, communication, collaboration, and logistic tools to the corporate and professional events industry

Purpose of the Project

Customer has determined that the existing system Exhibitor Hall Enterprise does not comply the reliability and performance requirements. Accordingly, it decided to undertake the project to move the functionality to a new architecture in order to take advantage of EJB technology, thus providing reliability and flexibility demanded by its business.

Objectives

To cover:
The design of the new system shall improve current technical decisions using new technologies and development tools.

The system shall allow:

• Visitor: to view general show-related information, view messages;
• Attendee: to view general show information, posts messages, and plan show visits;
• Decorator: to view show floorplan, booths information and history of changes;
• Exhibitor: to inform Show Organizer about reservation preferences, to view financial information, to maintain company account information, to assign personnel to roles, to maintain calendar/events;
• Show Organizer: to maintain show-related information, to maintain reservation information, to manage financial information, to maintain calendar/events.

Customer Requirements

System should be developed using JDK 1.2, JDBC 2.0, Java Servlets 2.2, JSP 1.1 and Weblogic 5.1 application server;
Database should be developed in SILVERRUN Database Design 2.5;
Java source code shall be developed in Visual Cafe 3.5

System Architecture

Web and Application servers

• Hardware: must fulfill minimum requirements described in WebLogic Listener 4.5.1 Installation Guide
• Operating System: Sun Solaris 7.0 
• Software: WebLogic Listener 4.5.1 / EJB 4.5.1, SunSoft JDK 1.2.1_04

Database server

• Hardware: must fulfill minimum requirements described in Oracle 8.1.5 Installation Guide
• Operating System: Sun Solaris 7.0 
• Software: Oracle 8.1.5

Application Software Architecture

The main software components of the system to be developed are:

Web Server: JSP pages, applets and Java Servlets.
Application Server: EJB business objects.
Database Server: EHE database.

Solution

Global view
From within the Global View, show management can access all cross-show data on exhibitors, contacts, financials, and schedules. This is also where you begin each individual show set-up by assigning staff responsibilities and access privileges.

Show Organizer view
The Show Organizer imports all the vital data for their show and sets up any new information including such items as product categories. If you wish, Exhibitors can later access this list and place themselves in categories and write their descriptions all online.

Show Organizer view
Only the Show Organizer has privileges to set pricing for booths, meeting rooms, sponsorships and the various other ancillary items your show is offering. Rates can be a flat fee or by units and are applied as you designate. Specialty item pricing is set here as well.

Show Organizer view
Once all your items are priced, your next step is to establish a customer payment schedule. Once again, EHE automates the process across the entire show while offering you the flexibility to meet individual customer needs.

FloorPlanner
Now that the show is set-up, put on your show sales hat. Within the Floorplanner tab, you will find all the information you need to complete a sales transaction. The real-time color-coded Java map shows the exact status of each booth on the show floor. By clicking on any booth, you get size, price, status and neighbors.

Recording and Analyzing
Once the sale is made, Sales or Accounting can create and send the invoices and record payment. The automated system notes if an invoice has been sent and can even alert you to odd payment amounts to ensure correct customer invoices.

Reports
Since the system is on the Web, real-time updates on how well sales are going can be checked through the various customizable reports EHE offers. Everyone from the CFO to those on the sales staff will appreciate this feature.

Calendar
For everyone in the organization, Exhibit Hall Enterprise provides a calendar and a task list to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. A company or show-wide feature is available to make sure all show changes and dates are current on everyone?s calendar. Check off what you have completed and the system keeps a history of each day?s activities.

Customer Relationship Management
Whether you are in Sales, Customer Service, or Administration, keeping an updated list of business accounts and contacts is crucial to your organization?s success.