|
There are three main architectural attributes that I believe enable a solid foundation for unified communications (UC).
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is first, due to its open standards-approach and extensibility for multimodal/multimedia communications. In addition to SIP, service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a key building block for any UC software platform. SOA emphasizes a loosely coupled, re-usable service approach. In short, SOA helps ensure an open approach to constructing your software platform.
The building of services that can be re-used also sets the stage for the third attribute, which is web services. Web services with well-defined application programming interfaces (APIs) allow customers to realize the more advanced functions of UC, such as communications-enabled business processes (CEBPs) or workflows. This embedded approach tightly aligns the telephony and IT domains into a single entity.
The combination of the above really forms the basis for an open, flexible and easily integrated UC architecture. Ultimately, customers adopt UC to enhance the productivity and automate processes when possible. The architectural tenets above play a key role in ensuring that your UC platform is able to perform these functions.
|
