News

New Service Portal in ISOF

HEUTHES company is planning to make a new version of Service Portal available to their clients. Changes for the most part include new visualization of users interface and improvement in ergonomics. The new visualization is the next stage of a face-lifting strategy being implemented by HEUTHES since 2009, which causes the system and its interface to become more user friendly. Improvement in ergonomics in turn includes addition, modification and handling of service notifications. Service notifications handling in the Portal will be executed with the help of pre-defined DMS work-flows coupled with participating Data Entry Forms together with attached files.

It is worth reminding, that the Service Portal is a set of functions which allow to report a repair and an on-going observation of the notification over the Internet. The notifications are automatically directed to the data base of the ISOF system allowing for an immediate handling and support. The system also allows multi - criteria notifications and documents participating in the process search. Gather information about the service notification allow for efficient planning of their execution and procurement of parts. On the basis of collected in such a way data, reports are created which visualize customer service process or service costs.

Parallel to the above HEUTHES performs research and development on a new Document Portal. The new Portal will allow for convenient and easy access through the Internet to documents kept in DMS module of the ISOF and ISOF-Workflow systems for users who are not employees of a given company. In the Document Portal, besides "traditional" electronic documents created with the use of text editors and spread sheets it will be possible to make accessible defined in DMS Data Entry Forms together with connected with them attachments.

The new version of the Service Portal and the new Document Portal will be made available in February of this year.

More information on page www.isof.pl.

HEUTHES introduces Groovy in its cloud computing systems

HEUTHES Research and Development Department conducts extensive works on a new technology which will allow using Groovy language on own HDB application server. HEUTHES uses HDB script language since the mid-90s of previous century. It is currently used in the ISOF and ISOF-Workflow systems dedicated to enterprises as well as Multicentaur and Gryfcard in banking.

HEUTHES has at its disposal trans-compilers of HDB scripts to JAVA and Pascal languages, however HDB language is not as developed as universal script languages such as Groovy or Python. As a result of assimilation of Groovy and simultaneous omission of trans-compiler, the HEUTHES company expects a significant increase in productivity of developed systems. It will also be a simplification for HEUTHES programmers, which will speed up the process of programs development and will improve debugging, which in effect will allow for more efficient development of software.

All of the above will take place while maintaining HDB advantages, which include among others: easiness of writing an application, high productivity and scalability, strict adherence to advanced multiprocessor architectures, reliability (resistance to erros), functioning in cloud computing, support for service without the necessity to interrupt functioning of the system (exchange of scripts for new ones "on the go"), integration with HEUTHES Cloud Monitor for the purpose of analysis of system`s productivity in real time.

Wojciech Grzybek, Chairman of HEUTHES Board of Directors said - introduction of the new solution in ISOF is aimed at middle of this year, in banking it is to be plmeneted in the 3rd quarter. Planning is based on mile stones which include the achievement of inter-operation with existing scripts and libraries as well as ensuring high productivity and reliability.

TAPIR Cloud

The HEUTHES company has developed a new version of TAPIR server, adapted to Cloud Computing. TAPIR cloud supports dynamic conversion of formats of documents placed in the cloud. The user has the capability to execute the following conversions either in the off-line or batch mode:

• TXT to: PDF, ODT, DOC, HTML,
• ODT to: PDF, DOC, TXT,
• DOC to: PDF, ODT, TXT,
• XLS to: PDF, ODS, TXT,
• ODS to: PDF, XLS, TXT,
• SXW to: PDF, ODT, DOC,
• TIF to: TXT (OCR), PDF.

It allows to build a mechanizm, which converts documents working in the cloud of DMS system to for example convenient files of popular spread sheets or PDF format.

TAPIR cloud is also used to support OCR text recognition as well as DMS module search mechanizm. It ensures conversion of the format of files (also from a graphic TIF format) to the text format which is used in the process of indexing of documents that enables search for kew words occurrence in the content of text files, document scans, e-mails, integrated message box, PDF and RTF files or OpenOffice and MS Office suite documents. Cloud TAPIR can connect with other servers which use Web Services communication. The TAPIR Server is also used to create graphic print-out templates for Data Entry Forms created in DMS module as well as the print out of filled Data Entry Forms. It also converts Data Entry Forms to PDF format.

HEUTHES performs extensive research on the implementation of support of PDF/A 2 standard in the TAPIR server services, which introduces format 1.7 of the PDF structure. It sets forth a number of improvements related to implementation of electronic signature among others.

The new solution will be implemented for users of the ISOF system in the 4th quarter of 2011.

HEUTHES increases the reliability of Cloud Computing

The HEUTHES company has developed a new version of HDB server by expanding it with an advanced HDB (RHDB) Redundance information technology, which in an intelligent way increases the reliability of cloud computing processing.

The HDB application server used by HEUTHES cloud systems has an embedded mechanism of scalability and load balancing on many computers. It is related to the necessity of problem solving connected with infallibility. In the traditional model when one of the servers is turned off, it is replaced with a kept at constant stand-by redundant back-up server (mirror). This method is performs well with a small number of computers. In cloud computing, where virtual servers work on a large number of physical servers, the RHDB becomes a great help. In an emergency situation the load of the turned-off application server is dynamically transmitted to constantly functioning servers, which only increase the quantity of executed threads and number of users. RHDB thus, grants servers the attribute of self-preservation instinct.

As a result of RHDB, costly and laborious maintaining of servers in stand-by mode is no longer needed, neither is implementation of complicated cloud configurations. It is sufficient, that functioning servers possess the adequate supply of computing power. This solution also levels out the known occurrence of emergencies of back-up devices, which maintained over long periods of time in stand-by mode and rarely tested, at times are not able to perform in case of real case of emergency in the main device. As a result of RHDB such problem does not exist, because the server arrangement is continuously working. HEUTHES estimates, that the implementation of this solution in connection with R2O technology will cause the increase in reliability by an order of magnitude.

The company recently performs extensive research on the issues of reliability and productivity of cloud solutions. This research resulted in the implementation of the following new technologies:

• R2O
• Unsystor
• HDB Cloud Monitor
• JQS
• Proaperman
• Virtual Live Backup

All of the above are an integral part of Client-Web-Server technology, developed since the mid-90s of the 20th century, which functions in the following banks: PEKAO SA, GBW SA, DnB NORD POLSKA SA, BGŻ SA i MR BANK SA and many enterprises.

Currently HEUTHES gradually implements RHDB in ISOF Computing Center. Its full implementation is predicted for the 4th quarter of 2011. Further work includes transfer of this technology to banking cloud solutions for GRYFCARD and MULTICENTAUR systems.

New MC-SORBNET2 to support SORBNET2 in banks

Coming forth to meeting the bank's expectations related to NBP requirements, HEUTHES has proposed a comprehensive solution MC SORBNET2, which is based on MULTICENTAUR system. It is worth mentioning, that according to NBP guidelines the SORBNET2 system must be implemented in Poland in the Ist Q of 2013 and must replace current SORBNET system which uses the SWIFT communication. Banks which would like to be the participants of the new system were informed about the necessity of transferring to NBP the information about the method of connecting to the SWIFT network and about the progress of preparations of participants until 31st of May of 2012.

MC-SORBNET2 is a module which is responsible for the support of payment communicates and SORBNET2 system information. HEUTHES proposes two functional models, which when taking into consideration the individual requirement of banks can be elastically modified. The first of two is based on the fact that the module plays the role of the adapter between banks` information systems which use the SORBNET interface and the SORBNET2 used at a bank. The basic advantages of selecting the solution offered by HEUTHES is the lack of necessity to adjust current bank's applications to NBP requirements as well as access to applications through a web-browser which optimizes the costs of implementation and support of the system. It is worth reminding that MC-FAKTOR, one of the new modules of the MULTCENTAUR system, was distinguished with a "Recommendation" title in the Product category in the forth edition of the contest by prepared by Gazeta Bankowa "HIT Roku 2011 dla Instytucji Finansowych".

MULTCENTAUR integrates systems from both the bank's surroundings, as well as intra-bank thereby creating a main "transactional hub". All systems use it to exchange information and to serve as an intermediary between the surrounding of a bank and its clients. The system guarantees the support of mechanisms which are used in domestic send and receive operations as well as foreign: ELIXIR, EUROELIXIR, SORBNET, SORBNET2, SORBNET EURO, TARGET2, SWIFT, SEPQA, clears foreign cheques and calculates provisions. In the range of internal processing it integrates many of the bank's information systems: Reconciliation Accounts General Ledger System, Card System, Home-Banking and ERP for back-office. Thanks to MC-INTRA module and the CLIENT-WEB-SERVER technology, working with the system may be performed on work stations of banks' employees straight in the web-browser window without the necessity of system installation. The solution is currently used by the following Banks: Pekao SA and Mazowiecki Bank Regionalny SA.

More information on page www.heuthes.pl/sorbnet2.

New R2O technology in ISOF

HEUTHES Company has finished research and development on a new R2O technology (we wrote about this in the news dated 11.10.2010). It allows access to the system in Client-Web-Server technology, which works in cloud computing in the back-up center, to which data is replicated from the main center in real-time. Thanks to special functions it is possible verify if both versions of the system (the main one and its copy) are identical. The name R2O implies, that both the database, as well as the application server are available in Read Only mode and allows the possibility of instantaneous switching of data processing from the main center to the back-up center. It increases greatly the availability of the system.

The above unique attributes of cloud computing, which are introduced by R2O will be in the next step transferred to banking solutions of the HEUTHES Company: the GRYFCARD and MULTICENTAUR systems. HEUTHES constantly performs research and development on the issues of security, which are an essential attribute of offered banking applications. The R2O in the ISOF system will be made available to clients in the forth quarter of current year.

On this occasion it is worth mentioning, that the next important technology which was implemented in ISOF is the mechanism of making available to users the ability to run safety copies of the system from read-only disks, on a virtual server. As a result the clients gain access through a web-browser to all data and functions on the safety copy run on a local computer in the read-only mode.

HEUTHES has finished the implementation of TARGET2 in PEKAO SA bank

The HEUTHES Company has finished the implementation of TARGET2 support in PEKAO SA. It is a European inter-bank clearing system which takes place in real-time. In practice the new solution means that the PEKAO SA bank may offer its clients the execution of transfers in EUR, which are then cleared by the recipients in a very short time, as little as a few minutes. According to accepted guidelines, the migration to TARGET2 off all the banks functioning in Poland should end by the end of this year.

TARGET2 System is dedicated to high value payments, however introducing it to an already used by a bank other HEUTHES solution, the MULTICENTAUR system, made sending any given amounts possible.

MULTCENTAUR integrates systems from both, the banks surroundings, as well as inner bank thereby creating a transactional hub "hub transakcyjny". All systems use it to exchange information and to mediate communication with bank's surrounding and it's clients. The system assures the support of mechanisms which are used in domestic and international: ELIXIR, EUROELIXIR, SORBNET, SORBNET EURO, SWIFT, SEPA, LORO, NOSTRO, OPO, IPO as well as clearing of international checks. Within the scope of inner processing, it integrates many of the bank's information systems, such as: Reconciliation Accounts General Ledger System, Card System, Home-Banking and ERP for back-office. Thanks to MC-INTRA module and the CLIENT-WEB-SERVER technology, working with the system may be performed on work stations of banks' employees straight in the web-browser window without the necessity of system installation. The solution is currently used by the following Banks: Pekao SA and Mazowiecki Bank Regionalny SA.

MC-Faktor a 2011 Hit of the Year for Financial Insitutions

During a ceremonial gala which took place on March 17th, 2011 in Centrum Nauki Kopernik (Copernicus Science Centre) in Warsaw, Gazeta Bankowa has resolved the results of the 4th edition of the Hit of The Year 2011 contest for Financial Institutions, dedicated to enterprises, which its products and services offer to banks and financial institutions. In a circle of submitted solutions MC-FAKTOR system of the HEUTHES company was distinguished with a Recommendation title. The chapter of the contest was made up of independent experts. In year 2009 the recommendation in this contest was also achieved by the GRYFCARD system and in the following year this same distinction was awarded to the ISOF-Workflow system, both of them created by HEUTHES.

MULTICENTAUR-FAKTOR (MC-FAKTOR) is dedicated to banks and financial institutions and is responsible for the automation of support for all basic factoring processes. In the year 2011 a new version of the system was introduced to the market. Its design allows a quick configuration of agreements, among others: within the scope of factoring services: with regression, without regression, reversed (reciprocal) as well as the management of Invoices without buy-out. The characteristic attribute of the system is an advanced mechanizm of work automation.

MC-FAKTOR is a part of the MULTICENTAUR system, which contains many modules for the support of business processes that take place in a bank. It may be implemented individually or it may be expanded with additional functionality required by the given institution. Making the system available through the web-browser results in the fact that the implementation is only limited to its installation on the server without the necessity of making adjustments to workstations of employees. One of the advantages of the system is the guarantee to the employee of access to up to date information related to the progress of order fulfillment at any moment of its handling.

HEUTHES banking systems currently function in PEKAO SA, Banku Gospodarki Żywno¶ciowej SA, DnB Nord Polska SA, Gospodarczym Banku Wielkopolski SA, Mazowieckim Banku Regionalnym SA as well as in two groups made up of over 230 cooperative banks.

See more at: http://gb.pl/

UNSYSTOR new technology already in the ISOF system

HEUTHES has modernized and expanded servers dedicated to the needs of the ISOF system. As we have already informed the company is working on increasing of the productivity of the servers using the UNSYSTOR (Unsymmetrical Storage) solution. Currently it was possible to create a new server, which contains in a great part this very technology. As the first tests have shown, the solution allows for an around 20-fold increase in saving of changes to database. Average increase in productivity for all types of operations is 10-fold.

Unfortunately HEUTHES must give up using SSD, because it was not possible to build a trustworthy model of reliability of the whole structure. The producers of these disks do not publish real data concerning guaranteed reliability. The MTBF parameter, of the average time between failures does not directly translate on a real vitality longevity of a disk, on which a great influence is imposed by the breakdown of memory cells under operation. The SSD disks also very weakly support the S.M.A.R.T. Technology, which makes monitoring and researching of reliability of individual elements in real time difficult. Not having the absolute assurance as to the reliability HEUTHES was forced to implement traditional disks, which however do not guarantee such spectacular as in case of SSD increase in productivity.

In matters of hard drive reliability an information chaos is present. It is worth to familiarize oneself with a report published by Google (http://labs.google.com/papers/disk_failures.pdf) regarding the research on the failures of hard drives. The general conclusion stemming from this article is the statement, that the data presented by the producers of devices are far from measured and achieved under real conditions. On the other hand submitted by SSD disk producers parameters specify over 200 years of uninterrupted functioning. However the guarantees on these products are not life-time. From available research a conclusion can be reached that it is extremely difficult to develop a trustworthy model of reliability which would be based on scientific prerequisites.

Currently a transfer to a new server of some of the clients of the ISOF system is under way. This process will last couple of weeks. Starting as early as April all clients will be able to confirm in practice just by how much the productivity of their work will increase as a result of UNSYSTOR. Simultaneously, HEUTHES is making changes in the domain of exploited operational systems and data bases. In the new server the Linux system with Debian distribution was resigned from in exchange for CentOS. In the range of data bases the newest version of PostgreSQL 9.0 was implemented.

The new server has also been equipped with a new cooling system. The selection of individual elements was preceded by the analysis of heat flow and dedicated numerical calculations, which were then verified using a thermographic camera. On one hand, the electric energy consumption was reduced, and on the other, a constant temperature of hard drives was ensured, which will directly translate to their reliability.

Cloud monitoring - new HDB Cloud Monitor

HEUTHES company has developed a prototype of a system for monitoring of servers in cloud computing infrastructure. The systems developed by the company for cloud computing infrastructure are based on own advanced Client-Web-Server technology. In the new architecture it has a five-element structure and contains using the client in the form of a web-browser and servers: WWW, applicational HDB, SQL data bases and monitoring HDB Cloud Monitor. Next to main servers the cloud computing infrastructure also includes back-up servers, between which data us replicated in the on-line mode. At the moment HEUTHES uses a two-level replication. The first level is the replication between physical servers in the cloud computing infrastructure in the main facility. The second, is the replication to a wide network between the main facility and a 500 km distant back-up facility. The new architecture allows access in read-only mode to replication servers (back-up, Hot Standby).

In the new solution the HDB Cloud Monitor becomes a fully-fledged element of the entire Client-Web-Server solution. It may trigger the teleportation of virtual machines depending on their work-load, substitute the main servers with back-up servers, switch data base servers to back-up devices as well as provide the function of system log analysis. However the HDB Cloud Monitor visualizes the current state of individual elements of cloud computing and reacts if allowed limits are exceeded.

HDB Cloud Monitor may be offered to clients in configuration which includes Open Source solutions, based on Linux, Cacti, Nagios and Zabbix. Employed by HEUTHES virtualization results in a situation in which the new monitor can have its back-up counterpart, which at any point in time is ready to take over its work-load. A teleportation is also possible from one physical machine to another, which in case of a set of individual applications would be impossible and which increases reliability. HDB Cloud Monitor also guarantees hierarchical functioning in many clouds connected with each other, ex. main facility and back-up facility.

HDB and Client-Web-Server technologies were developed in the mid 90s of the 20th century and are implemented in HEUTHES solutions to this day. Every day they are used in closely 10 thousand work-stations in MULTCENTAUR system for handling banking transactions, in GRYFCARD for handling of card transactions as well as in ISOF system - an ERP solution. Banking systems work in private clouds, ISOF in both license mode on clients' servers, as well as in SaaS facility in the public cloud. As a result of both technologies HEUTHES systems are universal and available on many platforms and operational systems.

HEUTHES new technology in HDB server

HEUTHES company has expanded the HDB server with a new JQS (Job Queue Server) module which is a service mechanizm for HDB applications. Services are processes which are executed without interaction with users and are started automatically. The typical use is the handling of outside events: importing of files, receiving of e-mail or asynchronous communication with Queuing servers.

HDB is HEUTHES' copyright technology, used in applications since the mid-90s of previous century, which contains application server, programming language and a trans-compilation to JAVA. It allows to develop applications which co-operate with any relational database (ex. Oracle, IBM Informix, PostgreSQL) and which work on many hardware platforms. As a result of implementation of a universal HDBJ application server, applications written in HDB language, after trans-compilation to JAVA class language are executed by the application server.

On HDB platform the HEUTHES company has developed many banking applications which are used every day by tenths of thousands of users. To the largest ones belong, MULTCENTAUR, GRYFCARD and ERP/CRM/DMS system for enterprises, named ISOF, available in SaaS as well as license mode. The newest development dedicated to large institutions is ISOF-WORKFLOW, which supports handling of electronic documents, data entry forms and their respective workflows.

GRYFCARD with VISA payWave support

The HEUTHES company performs intensive research on the final implementation of VISA payWave technology in it's GRYFCARD system.

VISA payWave is dedicated to low value contact-less payments in places where the speed of transaction is of great importance. It is a perfect solution for fast food restaurants, local convenience stores, cafes, newspaper stands, ticket booths or parking systems, as well as soccer stadiums (EURO 2012). The new solution with be made available to customers, together with new version of GRYFCARD in the fourth quarter of 2010.

GRYFCARD is an integrated system which handles all operations related to card payments. It enables co-operation between the clearing center and bank systems. System runs a card databse, allows electronic exchange of applications, fee calculation, sending and receiving of information from clearing center in the offline and online modes. It contains several embedded HEUTHES' technologies such as Client-Web-Server, HDB, KOBADIBUS and PROAPERMAN. KOBADIBUS contains a knowledge database of card handling rules, which undergo changes with time, within customer space, their segments as well as in the area of banking products. Thanks to this technology a bank by itself and quickly can develop new products and immediately offer them to clients without laborious software testing.

GRYFCARD has the ability to co-operate with other banking systems in the on-line mode. The backbone of this solution is the Enterprise Service Bus bulit on the basis of IBM tool from the WebSphere family. The ESB bus through a suitable interface provides communication between respective GRYFCARD modules with other banking systems which have interfaces to ESB in the SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) standard.

The first bank to implement the VISA payWave in the GRYFCARD system will be SGB (Spółdzielcza Grupa Bankowa) encompassing GBW SA bank and 150 associated Cooperative Banks.

ISOF-Workflow also with Oracle 11g

The HEUTHES company has ended research on the ISOF-Workflow system which cooperates with Oracle 11g database. For clients it is an additional platform to select, next to offered PostgreSQL database. Currently, last tests are performed before introduction of the last version to the market. The new solution will be made available to customers in the fourth quarter of 2010.

"We were persuaded to this venture by our customers, for which implementation of Oracle solutions is a corporate strategy and which are the advocators of uniformity of their IT environments. It is too bad that open source databases such as PostgreSQL do not become part of corporate and institution strategies" - said Wojciech Grzybek, Chairman of the Board of Directors at HEUTHES.

Just to remind, ISOF-Workflow works over a web-browser and integrates DMS and CRM class solutions. It enables handling of all electronic documents which function on every-day basis within any enterprise by introducing an integrated e-mail box, workflow, versioning and searching. Its particular attributes include: advanced module for definition, sending into workflow, filling and reporting data entry forms. Thanks to ISOF-Workflow one can very easily send, receive and process any amount of information currently in workflow between a large amount of employees within a company or institutions with a complex and diffused structure.

The system easily integrates with a corporate environment via a SOA ESB bus, as well as Active Directory and LDAP directory services. It contains PROAPERMAN technology, thanks to which it attains a high and foreseeable performance level not only in small, but also in extensive networks in which thousands of work stations work simultaneously.

ISOF-WORKFLOW in GBW SA bank

HEUTHES has signed a contract for the implementation of ISOF-WORKFLOW system in Gospodarczy Bank Wielkopolski SA and a group of 157 (data as of May 31st, 2010) associated Cooperative Banks, which together create a Cooperative Banking Group. The system works over a web-browser and integrates DMS and CRM class solutions. Its particular attributes include: advanced module for definition, sending into workflow, filling and reporting data entry forms. Thanks to ISOF-Workflow one can very easily send, receive and process any amount of information currently in workflow between a large amount of employees within a company or institutions with a complex and diffused structure.

What differs ISOF-WORKFLOW from other systems is the ability to be implemented on a large scale very quickly. That is made possible by the implementation of CLIENT-WEB-SERVER technology. The system also has an advanced reporting and data entry forms analysis module. Thanks to it they can be easily searched by any criteria and can be grouped according to specified queries and conditions.

Data Entry Forms can serve as an extension of already available in the ISOF system information (for example about: customer's data, CRM Activities, Purchase and Sales Invoices). Data Entry Forms enrich them with a set of data which are specific for the area of activity of system users. At the same time they allow to handle additional instances which occur in every day activities of a company. Data Entry Forms can also be sent into DMS workflows and undergo the process of group work. As a result of this ISOF-WORKFLOW allows for example, banks to implement a new document's workflow, related to the introduction of new banking products, in a very short time without the need for programming.

ISOF-WORKFLOW has been met with a very warm welcome that has been confirmed by high interest from clients from the banking and insurance sectors. Gazeta Bankowa monthly magazine in the "Hit Roku 2010 dla Instytucji Finansowych" contest has distinguished ISOF-WORKFLOW with a Recommendation title in the Product category.

More information on the following page www.heuthes.pl/isof-workflow.html

PROAPERMAN - new technology in HEUTHES systems

HEUTHES has made its information systems productivity analysis technology public. It is based on a probabilistic model - PROAPERMAN (Probabilistic Application Performance Management). It supports continuous registration, productivity analysis and optimization of servers' performance parameters and based on CLIENT-WEB-SERVER technology HEUTHES systems.

In reality the PROAPERMAN has been developed by HEUTHES for over 15 years now it and was created for the needs of CENTAUR and MULTCENTAUR banking systems. It is now used for over 10 years in ISOF and GRYFCARD/WWW as well as in the newest solution, the ISOF-WORKFLOW. Thanks to PROAPERMAN the systems are "aware" of the productivity of hardware and operation systems as well as databases on which they function operate. Data about performance are registered, analyzed in real-time and made available thanks to SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and can be processed retrospectively Two groups of factors are analyzed: productivity technical data and time characteristics of applications. Thanks to the above, the optimization includes both the tool system, as well as application's reaction time to individual events.