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Framework of E-Commerce


Figure 1.1 shows the generic framework of e-commerce.

Elements of E-Commerce Framework
  1. Information Super Highway (I-Way): Information superhighway is the transportation foundation that enables the transmission of content. The Information Superhighway facilitates the convergence of content and distributions channels, which brings corporations together, indicating huge commercial and cultural developments from the Internet. Any successful e-commerce application will require the I-Way infrastructure in the same way that regular commerce needs the interstate highway network to carry goods from point to point. A myriad (many) of computers, communications networks, and communication software forms the emerging Information Superhighway (I-Way).
  2. Multimedia Content and Network Publishing: The electronic system through which content is transmitted is an analogous to the non-electronic world in which different type of products are stored in distribution centers before they are loaded onto various vehicles for transport. Currently the most prevalent architecture that enables network publishing is the WWW. The web allows small businesses and individuals to develop content in the form of HTML and publish on the web server. In short web site provides a means to create product information and a means to publish it in a distribution center.
  3. Messaging and Information Distribution: Information distribution and messaging technologies provide a transparent mechanism for transferring information content over a network infrastructure layer. It is accomplished through software systems that implement File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and Simple Message Transfer Protocol (SMTP) for exchanging multimedia contents consisting of text, graphics, video, and audio data.
  4. Common Business Services: Common business services, for facilitating the buying and selling process. Electronic commerce applications require that the information sources to be made available online to geographically dispersed clients and facilitation of the transactional environment. Addressed by deploying strong site security measures that constantly monitor the site for authenticated and authorized activities, virus detection and elimination systems, and intrusion detection systems and firewalls. Securing the transaction, carried out over the network, requires addressing several security and confidentiality related issues. The confidentiality or privacy of the transaction data can be addressed by using various encryption techniques. The shared key as well as the public/ private key pair based encryption techniques can be used for the purpose. Electronic payment is fundamental to the acceptance of electronic commerce as a viable alternative to traditional commerce. It is a mechanism that facilitates an online financial exchange between concerned parties. Several scalable and flexible electronic payment mechanisms - cash, cheques and credit cards have emerged, essentially imitating traditional payment mechanisms. 

Pillars of E-Commerce Framework 
There are two pillars supporting all e-commerce applications and infrastructure as shown in figure 1.1. They are:
  1. Public Policy and Privacy Issues: Govern issues such as Universal access, privacy and information pricing. The trust environment has its basis in the public policy and legal framework. Establishing electronic commerce related laws and recognized certification authorities provide the legal framework for electronic commerce. 
  2. Technical Standards: Dictate the nature of information publishing, user interfaces, and transport in the interest of compatibility across the entire network.

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Some more related topics:-
Electronic Commerce 
Meaning and Definition 
Features of Electronic Commerce 
Framework of E-Commerce 


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