Siebel Order Management Infrastructure Guide > PSP Engine > Components of the PSP Engine >

Variable Maps

Variable maps, using the Context Service business service, help the controller workflow to construct inputs to PSP procedures and process the output of PSP procedures. The Context Service business service optimizes the querying and updating of row set data by reading data directly from the active business component, thereby eliminating unnecessary SQL queries. Context Service provides a row-level delta that determines which line items to update. Batched SQL eliminates unnecessary network round-trips.

The Context Service business service:

• Constructs the input row sets. Context Service converts business component data, XML, or property set data to a common format. It translates from various name spaces to the PSP name space. It defines the subset of fields required by the PSP procedure.
• Writes the output row set back to its source. Context Service converts from the common format back to the business component data, XML, or property set data. It translates from the PSP name space to the target name space.

NOTE:  Most PSP procedures use the Context Service business service, but it is not required for all PSP procedures. For example, a Web service could invoke Siebel Pricer with a property set directly generated from the input XML document by XSLT, without using the Context Service business service.

For more information about variable maps and the Context Service business service, see Variable Maps.