Operational Architecture


LiveWorld applications are a mix of off-the-shelf and in-house developed applications conforming to the open standards model. They provide a dynamic mix of evolving functionality, flexibility, performance, and scale.


The applications are designed to seamlessly integrate with client systems for look and feel, brand, registration and specialized functions. Totally internationalized, LiveWorld applications are currently deployed in Roman and double-byte Asian languages in dozens of countries around the world. The platform integrates with your existing systems — user log in, registration, and authentication.


Most importantly, the systems are designed, built, and maintained by expert technical personnel, deeply experienced in the dynamics of successful online communities.


If you’re looking for a more technical detail, read on. If not, we’d be happy to connect you with one of our technical leads to explain all the details of how our applications are hosted and architected.


Platform

LiveWorld’s platform’s threaded message board software allows dynamic, threaded dialog on websites. It features excellent performance with client-defined "skins" to completely customize the look, feel, and functionality of forums. A plug-in API provides advanced features such as content filters, or almost anything else.


The platform leverages the architecture of server-side Java. Widespread availability of server-side Java-enabled web servers means that it will run almost anywhere. The application is a three-tier system consisting of skins, filters and interfaces, and the back-end.


A web skin defines the look, feel and function of an application. It provides a view of the content so that users can traverse threads and read messages. Most other applications have only one skin, limited to customization of colors and text messages. LiveWorld’s platform allows an unlimited number of totally customizable skins.


Jive Architecture

The interfaces sit between the skin and back-end. They provide a simple, elegant way to access content. On top of the interfaces, an arbitrary number of filters can be applied at runtime to provide advanced forum services. Some filter examples include syntax highlighting of Java code, translation from one language to another, and profane language filtering. The application is powered by a plug-able backend, meaning that threads and messages can be stored on the file system, in a database, or in some new and novel way. Currently, a high performance database back-end exists.


Total Customization

Skins technology: Clients customize the entire look and function of forums and integrate them anywhere on their sites. LiveWorld provides seamless branding with direct access to design fully customized headers, footers, background, font styles and colors, buttons and icons. Ads and product offerings are easily integrated.


Integrated registration: LiveWorld’s platform integrates with your own registration system or LiveWorld’s registration system.


System and Architecture Features

Proven performance: LiveWorld’s platform has proven its stability and speed on major community sites such as eBay, HBO, Campbell Soup, A&E/Biography/History Channel and Mini USA. LiveWorld’s platform easily scales to millions of page views per day.


Hosted: LiveWorld’s Platform is a hosted architecture that offers a highly reliable and scalable infrastructure that covers all needs for hardware, software, network, and storage and bandwidth usage.


Based on Java standards: LiveWorld’s platform is a 100% Java application that leverages server-side Java technologies such as Servlets, JSP, and JDBC. Java provides great performance on a wide variety of platforms.


Database back-end: A database backend gives LiveWorld’s platform excellent performance and scalability. The database schema has been carefully tuned to work with a wide variety of products. LiveWorld implements with mySQL. The platform is capable of supporting Oracle, mySQL, DB2, Microsoft SQLServer, Sybase, Interbase, Hypersonic SQL, Pointbase, Informix, Postgres, and Cloudscape. Further database support is being added all the time. Built-in database connection pooling gives maximum database performance.


Caching: LiveWorld’s platform aggressively caches data in memory for maximum performance. Cache settings are adjustable to tune for highest performance or minimum memory usage.


Fast, indexed searching: LiveWorld’s platform uses Lucene for fast, powerful searching. Search single forums or all forums at once. Searches can be done by forum or for selected forums, by subject or message text or both, as well as author and date range.


LDAP support: LiveWorld’s platform can use your existing LDAP directory for authentication and for storing all user data.


Full internationalization (i18n) support: The default skin is fully translatable and time zones and number formatting are locale-specific. LiveWorld’s platform supports foreign language character sets. Users can also choose a custom time zone and locale for displaying dates and times.


XML support: Import and export LiveWorld’s platform data as XML for back-up or for converting legacy forum data.


Security: Permissions for reading forums, posting threads, and posting messages are fully adjustable on a per-user basis. Users can be organized into groups for easier permission management. User passwords are stored securely to protect against password stealing. LiveWorld’s platform also inherits the security architecture of server-side Java, which makes hacks and exploits much more difficult than in other programming languages.


Security

Having operated very large sites, such as eBay, AppleLink, eWorld and Talk City, LiveWorld has substantial experience in dealing with issues experienced by highly visible sites, such as denial of service attacks. We also have a strong basis in managing network security.


For physical security, our network is housed at a secure Tier 1 data center with physical access to authorized LiveWorld personnel only. LiveWorld’s network is housed behind redundant firewalls. We also implement VPN using two-factor SecurIDs for authorized user access for administration and operations.