A Sample Application

The operations of a large bookseller, BooksOnLine, are based on an online book ordering system that automates activities across the various departments involved in the sale. The front end of the system is an order entry application used to enter new orders. Incoming orders are processed by an order processing application that validates and records the order. Shipping departments located at regional warehouses are responsible for ensuring that orders are shipped on time. There are three regional warehouses: one serving the East Region, one serving the West Region, and a third warehouse for shipping international orders. After an order is shipped, the order information is routed to a central billing department that handles payment processing.The customer service department, located at a separate site, is responsible for maintaining order status and handling inquiries.

The features of AQ are exemplified within the BooksOnLine scenario to demonstrate the possibilities of AQ technology. A script for the sample code is provided in Appendix C, "Scripts for Implementing 'BooksOnLine'").