The CQ-3770® software and Hayes™ OPTIMA™ modem with the AutoSync™ 2 feature provide BASF with automated and accurate transmission of import and export data to the U.S. Customs mainframe site.
BASF Corporation is a global company with activities in chemicals, health and nutrition, and oil and gas. With sales in the billions, they are also one of the largest producers of chemicals and related products in North America. The need for a highly effective and automated means for transmitting trade information from BASF’s Mt. Olive, NJ headquarters to the U.S. Customs Service Data Center mainframe site was a constant daily requirement.
BASF needed to establish a connection with the U.S. Customs Automated Broker Interface (ABI) system. ABI permits participants to electronically file required import data with Customs. Specifically, BASF was looking to submit duty drawback claims to Customs and receive immediate responses to these claims.
BASF contacted Atlanta-based CQ Computer Communications, Inc. (www.cq-comm.com) to provide the CQ-3770®/Hayes™ OPTIMA™ solution. The solution uses the proven IBM® 3770 mainframe connectivity technology to establish a dial-up communications link with the ABI system. The solution is comprised of CQ’s 3770 software, customized scripts, and a Hayes OPTIMA modem by Boston-based Zoom® Telephonics, Inc. (www.hayesmicro.com).
Customized 3770 Solution for Remote Host Access
The AES and ABI systems required BASF to establish a dial-up communications link between the Customs mainframe host and BASF’s Remote Job Entry (RJE) PC station. This connection needed to adhere to a specific set of 377x Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) protocol communications parameters. The CQ-3770 solution provided terminal emulation of these parameters for BASF’s remote PC-to-mainframe host access.
CQ’s 3770 software products have supported the SDLC RJE 3770 mainframe technology since the software was first released more than 15 years. The software installs in minutes and provides convenient features such as fast file transfers, convenient auto-dialing support, cost-effective unattended operation abilities, and support under Microsoft’s® 32-bit Windows® operating systems, including Windows 2000, Windows NT®, Windows 98, and Windows 95. The CQ-3770 solution also comes with a set of customized scripts that automates the dial-up process for BASF to the host site.
Guy Carothers, an IT programmer at BASF, states, "The specialized scripts that CQ designed provide a convenient and fast means to access U.S. Customs. CQ’s support staff was extremely helpful in providing technical assistance for our automated connection with ABI. They have the best customer service I’ve ever dealt with. The scripts that they designed for us make transmission of our trade information very simple."
Hardware Installation - Just Plug It In
One of the benefits of the CQ-3770/Hayes OPTIMA solution is its ease of installation. The clear advantage of this solution over other solutions is that there is no internal synchronous adapter card needed.
In a nutshell, PC-to-mainframe host connectivity requires conversion of the remote PC’s asynchronous protocol to a synchronous protocol that is required by the mainframe. To accomplish this, most users must install a costly and inconvenient internal synchronous adapter card in the PC. An external modem plugs into the card, the card performs the async/sync conversion, and then the data is transmitted by the modem to the mainframe.
The CQ/Hayes solution does not require an internal adapter card because of the AutoSync™ 2 technology in the Hayes OPTIMA modem. AutoSync 2 automatically performs the async/sync conversion without the need for an internal adapter card. BASF not only saved the added expense of the purchase and maintenance of the adapter card, but also saved the time required for installation of the card.
BASF’s personnel simply plugged the external Hayes OPTIMA 56K modem into their PC’s asynchronous serial COM port for synchronous host connectivity. The OPTIMA 56K modem is equipped with the patented AutoSync 2 technology that allows BASF to communicate with the U.S. Customs Service Data Center at speeds up to 33.6 Kbps for synchronous dial-up lines.
Guy Carothers states, "CQ helped us in every way possible to get connected with Customs. They have been one of the most helpful suppliers that I have ever dealt with. I would recommend their solution to any organization that requires host mainframe access."
CQ Solution Supports Other U.S. Customs Systems
Along with the ABI system, the CQ-3770/Hayes OPTIMA solution provides communications support for other components of the U.S. Customs Service’s Automated Commercial System. These systems include:
For more information on this 3770 solution or any of CQ’s other connectivity solutions, contact CQ Computer Communications at 770-844-0233. You can also contact CQ at email@cq-comm.com or visit CQ’s web site at http://www.cq-comm.com.
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