SAP Framework

The framework consists of core components. These components are logically grouped in three main layers:
  • Change detection layer
  • Business logic layer
  • Integration layer

Within the framework, there also exists the configuration module and system monitor. The configuration module provides the interface to the integration framework to allow for the configuration and administration of the various components within it. The system monitor provides an administrative interface to monitor processing related to users, pushes, and other synchronization tasks within the framework.

Change Detection

The change detection layer of the Agentry SAP Framework contains the exchange tables and triggers used to detect and track changes made to the data in the SAP system, and stores exchange information used during synchronization between the mobile application and SAP. Included in the change detection layer are the following:
  • Mobile Exchange Persistent Layer - Contains the exchange tables used during synchronization to compare data on the Client to data in the SAP system, and to support the synchronization of only the differences.
  • Delta Detection Routines - Contains the triggers, created in the SAP enhancement framework, to detect changes to production data of importance to the mobile application.
  • Change Detection Configuration Set - Configuration tools, including the interface presented in the Configuration portal, to allow for the creation, configuration, and administration of the components of the change detection layer.
  • Exchange Object - Presented in the Configuration Panel, the exchange object encapsulates the SAP tables, exchange table, class handler, and other components involved in the change detection process. Exchange objects are utilized by the fetch process to determine what data has changed since the last transmit of the mobile device.

Business Logic Layer

The business logic layer contains the logical components to work with the exchange data objects in the change detection layer for downstream synchronization, as well as the logical components to update data from transactions in the mobile application to the SAP system. Included in the business logic layer are the following:
  • Application Data Filter Services - Specifies the filtering of data to be retrieved from the SAP system for transmission down to the mobile application. Not all fields from a given table will necessarily be sent to the mobile application. The application data filter services allow for the specification of the specific fields from a table to be sent to the mobile application.
  • Data Object Class Handler Repository - Contains the logic used by the mobile data objects to synchronize data. A class handler is created to retrieve data from or update data to the SAP system, making calls to the standard SAP BAPIs.
  • Application Authorization Services - Contains the security settings specific to the mobile user group. Settings for authorization services can be applicable to users of all mobile applications synchronizing data through the Agentry SAP Framework, for a specific application, or for a specific class handler within the business logic layer.
  • Mobile Integration Configuration Set - Configuration tools, including the interface presented in the Configuration Panel, to allow for the creation, configuration, and administration of the components of the business logic layer.
  • Mobile Data Object - Presented in the Configuration Panel, the mobile data object encapsulates the class handler, exchange object (in the change detection layer), the application data filtering services, and other components involved in the synchronization of data. The mobile data object references the exchange object in the change detection layer to support its synchronization. It in turn is referenced by the BAPI wrappers within the integration layer.

Integration

The integration layer of the Agentry SAP Framework contains the BAPI wrappers that present the integration point to the mobile application servers. The Java steplets, complex table, and data table classes within the synchronization definitions of the mobile application call into these BAPI wrappers, through the SAP Java Connector (SAP JCo). The BAPI wrappers, in turn, call into the mobile data objects, which include the business logic for synchronization.

The architecture and design of the BAPI wrappers is intended to exclude the business logic related to the synchronization of the production data. This structure minimizes the necessity of modifying Java code within the mobile application as the result of changes to the synchronization processing configured in the integration of the Agentry SAP Framework.

Configuration Module

The configuration module is the web interface for the Agentry SAP Framework Configuration Panel. This interface provides the tools to create, configure, and administer the components of the integration of the Agentry SAP Framework.

System Monitor

The system monitor is the web interface for the Agentry SAP Framework Administration and Monitoring Panel. This monitoring panel is provided to view mobile users’ synchronization activities, including fetches, transactions, and pushes.