High Level Architecture

High level architecture overview for TicketMasala.com

This document covers the various key components required for building ticketmasala portal. It describes the role of each component and gives technical details about the same.

Web Tier: It is the face of entire application. All the web pages that show the various features of portal are present here. Web tier will be built using ASP.NET 2.0 using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. If any IDE is not purchased then I would suggest going with Visual Studio 2008. C# being the most popular choice among developers would be the language in which both web tier and app tier will be coded.

All communication between web and app tier needs to happen using Windows Communication Foundation which is part of .net framework 3.0. Here are a few of various options available.

1) BasicHttpBinding: Uses http protocol and XML for communication

2) Nettcpbinding: Users tcp protocol and binary for communication

A decision on what to use can be made depending upon performance requirements.

App Tier (Middle Tier): This is core of the entire system. It is responsible for all the communication between web tier and database tier or web tier and external (third party) system. In addition it is also responsible to process requests in a transaction based model.

App tier will be developed using the same IDE as web tier and .net framework 3.0. It will contain .net assemblies that will handle the data transfer between web tier and third party systems/database tier. ADO.NET will be used to develop classes that will deal with communicating with database.

Microsoft enterprise library blocks can be used all over the web tier and app tier. It will contain Data Application block, Exception Handling application block and Logging Application block. All application blocks are configuration driven and extremely simple to use. Another great reason to use them is the cut in development time.

Database Tier: All the data related to entire application resides in this tier. Data mining and reporting will be built on top of this. SQL Server 2005 will be used as database because of its rich features such as CLR stored procedures, notification services and most importantly reporting services. Data related to ticketing and masala will be hosted here.

Hardware: Depeding on traffic web tier/App tier /database tiers can have one or more servers. Windows server 2003 will be the obvious pick for operating system. If we are using multiple servers in web and app tiers, we will need a load balancer between them for efficient usage of all the servers.

Having a load balancer will also help in rotating servers when new version of software is installed or if a server is down for unknown reasons. All tiers will have a failover server as a backup in case of unknown crashes.

Citysearch Announces Strategic Partnership With MerchantCircle, Web's Fastest Growing Local Business Network

Citysearch Announces Strategic Partnership With MerchantCircle, Web's Fastest Growing Local Business Network: "Citysearch Announces Strategic Partnership With MerchantCircle, Web's Fastest Growing Local Business Network PR Newswire - Deal Gives Citysearch Access to Web's Largest Social Network of Local Merchants- MerchantCircle to leverage Citysearch Content and Pay-for-Performance Business Model November 28, 2007: 11:03 AM EST WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Citysearch, a leading online local guide and operating business of IAC , today announced a strategic partnership with MerchantCircle, an online network and marketing company for local businesses. The deal represents Citysearch's continued strategy to expand its footprint in local search and allows MerchantCircle to dramatically further its mission of bringing local business owners closer to customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Through the deal, Citysearch will accelerate its growth by leveraging MerchantCircle's scalable and fully automated platform for acquiring and engaging local merchants and distributing local content. MerchantCircle has successfully engaged over 300,000 proactive merchants to build out their profile page, upload photos, create coupons, and interact with millions of local customers online. Citysearch has the opportunity to tap into this large community of registered local merchants and paying customers. "

Citysearch - Google Finance

Citysearch - Google Finance: "his online enterprise tracks down things to do all around town. Citysearch is a leading provider of local entertainment and business listings on the Internet, operating city-specific Web sites covering metropolitan areas across the US. In addition to searchable listings, the sites offer a variety of reviews and guides to help people find the best restaurants, night clubs, and other attractions that their city has to offer. Citysearch also provides local information on more than a dozen areas in Australia, Canada, and Europe. It operates as a unit of Barry Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp."

TicketMaster

Ticketmaster is the world's leading ticketing company, operating in 20 global markets, providing ticket sales, ticket resale services, marketing and distribution through http://www.ticketmaster.com, one of the largest e-commerce sites on the Internet; approximately 6,500 retail outlets; and 20 worldwide call centers. Ticketmaster celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006 and currently serves more than 9,000 clients worldwide across multiple event categories, providing exclusive ticketing services for hundreds of leading arenas, stadiums, performing arts venues, museums, and theaters. In 2006, the company sold more than 128 million tickets valued at over $7 billion on behalf of its clients. Ticketmaster is headquartered in West Hollywood, California and is an operating business of IAC .