PilotFish Interface Exchange (PIE)

The ACORD Plug and Play (PnP) working group has worked to remove the ambiguity from the implementation of common ACORD TXLife messages. The ACORD XML schema defines a broad data dictionary that has proven extremely flexible for implementers. This flexibility is powerful, but can also extend implementation timelines as the nuanced differences between participant interpretations must be discussed and rationalized.

With the introduction of ACORD Plug and Play, the definitions of these business messages have been honed. Service-specific data requirements and business rules have been outlined. As a result, two ACORD PnP-compliant participants can drastically reduce their implementation costs when connecting to one another.

ACORD Plug and Play also standardizes the message transmission protocol and security stack. ACORD PnP messages leverage the ACORD Web Services Profile (AWSP), which relies heavily on the W3C WSS (Web Service Security) standards. These standard ensure both secure and consistent communication between trading partners, leveraging:

• HTTP
• SOAP 1.2
• 2-Way SSL (to establish mutual trust)
• X.509 Certificates
• Timestamps (to prevent replay attacks)
• XML Digital signatures on the SOAP body, Timestamp, and UsernameToken (to ensure unaltered content)

This XCS eiConsole interface provides a starting point for implementers looking to become ACORD PnP capable. The package includes:

• A sample "ACORD PnP MaintainCustomerContact Request"
• A sample "ACORD PnP MaintainCustomerContact Response"
• An "ACORD PnP MaintainCustomerContactseStatus Template"

Each contains templates for well-formed request and response messages for the given transaction.

Transmission logic is also included. This bundle also contains pre-configured PnP WS-Security Encoding Processor for wrapping your messages with an AWSP and PnP-compliant web services headers.

A pre-configured HTTP Transport component is also included. Out of the box, the transport is configured to communicate with ACORD's PnP Testing Facility. Simply configure your own digital certificate, and you are ready to begin sending test messages.

Click the "Download" button now to immediately send these interfaces to your copy of the XCS eiConsole. ACORD PnP capabilities are just a few clicks away!