The basics of sedex Messaging

In technical terms, sedex Messaging realizes a so-called message-oriented middleware (MOM) that integrates distributed e-government applications in Switzerland.

Qualities of sedex Messaging

The three most important qualities of sedex messaging are:

1. Security: The transmitted data is protected from unauthorized access and is protected against unwanted data manipulation thanks to reliable digital encryption.
2. Traceability: It is always clear where a sedex message is and what its status is.
3. Reliability: The sender is informed by technical receipts if a sedex message is successfully delivered to the recipient(s) or if it cannot be delivered.

Further qualities of sedex Messaging can be found on the separate features page.

Message Flow

Basically sedex Messaging offers the secure and traceable exchange of data between business applications over the Internet using messages and receipts.

The following diagram shows the complete flow of a message transmitted via sedex between two business applications. (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

Structure of a sedex Message

A sedex message is used for the data exchange between the participants of the sedex platform. It consists of two components:

1. a sedex envelope
2. a payload file

The sedex envelope is a document that contains the metadata of a message. These are among others fields like

• the sender of the message (i.e. the sedex ID of the sender)
• the recipient(s) of the message (i.e. the sedex ID(s) of the addressees)
• the message type (a number describing the business case or the meaning of the data)
• the message-id (a reference ID assigned by the sender for this message)
• the message-date (a creation date of the message defined by the sender)
• the event-date (a business date defined by the sender for the payload)

The payload file is containing the actual business data to be transmitted. In principle sedex can transfer files of any type as payload, but very common are the file types XML, JSON, ZIP. In particular, ZIP files are always chosen when several related files are to be transferred at once with one sedex message.

Choose from two sedex Messaging interfaces

Business applications are connected to the sedex platform via a dedicated messaging interface provided by the sedex-Client. This messaging interface allows business applications to send/receive sedex messages and receive sedex receipts.

The developers of business applications can choose between two technically different but otherwise equivalent and interoperable interfaces:

• File System Messaging Interface
  Access messages and receipts via shared folders in the file system.
• Messaging REST API
  Access messages and receipts via an HTTPS-based REST API.

Depending on the technical requirements and preferences, one or the other messaging interface of the sedex-Client can be selected.