A Study in Electronic Commerce: Demonstration

Cornell University
Computer Science Department
Masters of Engineering Project
Spring 1998

Han-Yang Lo
Sanjeev Topiwala
Joyce Wang
with assistance from Keith Sollers

Under the supervision of: Professor Fred B. Schneider
last modified: Monday, 4/27/98

Demonstration

Important Notes

• Right now, this has only been tested on Netscape Navigator 3.1. No assumption is made about the implementation on other browsers.

Instructions For Demonstration: Setup

You will need to download three or four zipped files for the demonstration (depending on whether you would like to set up your own merchant web page, or just use the one provided).

• Bank Demo Files
• Merchant Demo Files
• Consumer Demo Files
• Merchant Purchase Page Scripts

The files should be located in the same directory (ie. all bank demo files should be in the same directory, all merchant demo files should be in the same directory, and all consumer demo files should be in the same directory).

Depending on where you are running the merchant, bank, and consumer, you may need to change a few of the files. The bank is a static entity. In each of the components (bank, merchant, consumer), you will find a file called ipaddr.bnk. This is just a plaintext file. Edit each of these files to reflect the IP address and port number of the bank server. The bank IP address and port must be the same on all three sides, otherwise, the merchant and consumer may not be able to connect to the bank. Make sure the port number is valid.

The merchant also has a file called ipaddr.mct. Edit this file to reflect the IP address and port number of the merchant.

Instructions For Demonstration: Merchant page

The demonstration merchant page is here, and if you use to set up your own merchant web pages, instructions for using the scripts are included in the zip file.

Instructions For Demonstration: Using the Software

1. After setting up parameters on each side, you can start using the software.
2. Launch the Bank and Merchant at the appropriate IP address.
3. Initially, the Consumer software will have $0.00 in the wallet.
4. To withdraw money, click on the "withdraw" icon.
5. To deposit money, click on the "deposit" icon.
6. To check the current balance, click on the "balance" icon.
7. To get change, click on the "change" icon.
8. To purchase from a web page, use Netscape 3.1. Follow the directions on the web page. There should be a purchase button which will launch your application or ask if you would like to open it with an application. Choose "open" and browse for the consumer application.
9. The consumer software must not be open prior to purchasing merchandise. (If it is, you will not be able use it.)
10. You may get a dialog box asking if you would like to get change. Click on 'Yes' because the software assumes you have correct change when purchasing from a merchant. You can test what happens when the bank goes down while asking for change. You will not be able to buy from the merchant if you do not have correct change.
11. We'll demonstrate an example sequence of transactions.

Source Code and Build Instructions

The build instructions are bundled with the source code.

Presentation

The presentation documentation will include:

• What the system does
• How the system works
• How the system is structured
• Verification of correctness (security, reliability)
• Issues, shortcomings, and possible solutions

This will be available by Monday, April 27, 1998.

Available Documentation

Specifications
Design Documentation
Consumer User Manual
Merchant User Manual
Bank User Manual
Demonstration of V-óa$h