WISL C/CM EBM Interface

Overview

Waterloo Information Systems Limited

33 Dupont Street East

Waterloo, Ontario

N2J 2G8

The information contained herein is proprietary and considered a trade secret of Waterloo Information Systems Limited and shall not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written authorization of Waterloo Information Systems Limited.

I. Introduction

Utilization of the Expresso Book Machine introduces some additional requirements for managing course-ware and copyright. In fact there are some requirements that must be addressed in support of EBM activities that involve neither course-ware nor copyright.

II. Integration With C/CM Process Flow

It is recognized that EBM must be identified separately at the highest level in the C/CM flow. In addition there are several categories of EBM related activities that must be segregated within the EBM grouping. EBM therefore is identified as a separate system in C/CM and upon initial establishment of an EBM system record a specification is prompted to identify the EBM sub-category. Hence whenever “system” is considered in the C/CM flow the unique requirements of EBM must be considered followed by any special considerations of the specified sub-category. A major advantage of this approach is that reports may be readily accumulated by “system” for the entire EBM category but may also be easily segregated by EBM sub-category. The current EBM sub-categories are course-ware (CW), textbook (TX), trade-book (TR) and general merchandise (GM).

III. EBM Record Collection

Course-ware managed by WISL C/CM utilizes an interface with a third party textbook retail management system to help control record-keeping. EBM course-ware records are handled with the same C/CM-textbook retail management system interface. It is understood that C/CM records in the other three sub-categories may only be added to the C/CM data base after they have been added to the data base of the corresponding module of the third party retail management system. Hence a record may only be added by specifying the key of the corresponding record on the third party retail management system data base. Some identity and biographic data is transferred from the third party retail management system to initiate the C/CM record. In large measure the same facilities used to maintain course-ware records are employed to maintain EBM records. The display on some data collection pages will vary depending upon special requirements of the EBM sub-category. In some cases additional data attributes will be prompted and in some cases attributes prompted for course-ware will not appear for EBM records.

IV. EBM Administrative Activities

Menu actions have been added to present pages to address specific EBM administrative activities. Specification of arrangements with wholesale customers is an example where additional data attributes must be collected in order to monitor wholesale vendor relationships.

V. Reporting

All reporting available for course-ware records is also available for EBM records. Special reporting required for administration of EBM related activities is available as well as special analytical reporting. Reporting on royalties in wholesale relationships for both operational and analytical purposes is available.