Transaction processing system

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A 'Transaction Processing SystemTo be considered a transaction processing system the

computer must pass the ACID test.

From a technical perspective, a Transaction Processing System (or Transaction

Processing Monitor) monitors transaction programs, a special kind of programs. The
essence of a transaction program is that it manages data that must be left in a consistent
state. E.g. if an electronic payment is made, the amount must be either both withdrawn
from one account and added to the other, or none at all. In case of a failure preventing
transaction completion, the partially executed transaction must be 'rolled back' by the
TPS. While this type of integrity must be provided also for batch transaction processing,
it is particularly important for online processing: if e.g. an airline seat reservation system
is accessed by multiple operators, after an empty seat inquiry, the seat reservation data
must be locked until the reservation is made, otherwise another user may get the
impression a seat is still free while it is actually being booked at the time. Without proper
transaction monitoring, double bookings may occur. Other transaction monitor functions
include deadlock detection and resolution (deadlocks may be inevitable in certain cases
of cross-dependence on data), and transaction logging (in 'journals') for 'forward
recovery' in case of massive failures.

Transaction Processing is not limited to application programs. The 'journaled file system'
provided with IBMs AIX Unix operating system employs similar techniques to maintain
file system integrity, including a journal.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 Types of Transaction Processing Systems

o 1.1 Contrasted with batch processing
• 2 Features of Transaction Processing Systems
o 2.1 Rapid Response
o 2.2 Reliability
o 2.3 Inflexibility
o 2.4 Controlled processing
• 3 ACID Test Properties: First Definition
o 3.1 Atomicity
o 3.2 Consistency
o 3.3 Isolation
 o 3.4 Durability
• 4 Storing and Retrieving
o 4.1 Databases and files
o 4.2 Data Warehouse
o 4.3 Backup Procedures
 4.3.1 Recovery Process
 4.3.2 Types of Back-up Procedures
 4.3.2.1 Grandfather-Father-Son
 4.3.2.2 Partial Backups
 4.3.3 Updating in a Batch
 4.3.4 Updating in Real-Time
• 5 References

• 6 See also

Smart Transaction Systems Integrates Gift Card

Software with New InvenTrak Point of Sale

Smart Transaction Systems announces integration with

the latest point-of-sale release from Specialty Retail One,
InvenTrak POS. Now, merchants using InvenTrak can
process gift cards with no extra equipment.

Boulder, CO, May 17, 2008 -- Smart Transaction

Systems (STS), a provider of gift card and customer
loyalty programs for retailers, announced the
integration of its programs with InvenTrak POS
software, the most recent solution from Specialty
Retail One (SROne). Designed specifically for fast-
paced, high-volume retailers, InvenTrak combines a
powerful POS with an extensive back office to deliver a unique
solution.

“InvenTrak is rapidly gaining popularity with our sports and

entertainment retail clients that can benefit from innovative
solutions like wireless POS networks and remote inventory
management. We're delighted to be able to offer customers a
fully integrated gift card solution that works with their existing
POS systems,” Ray Clopton, president of Smart Transaction
Systems, said. “We see great potential for multi-application
stored value cards in this market. With our solution, season
tickets can store a cash value as well as earn reward points with
purchases in stores and online.”

With STS gift card integration, retailers using InvenTrak can now
process gift cards directly through their POS systems. This
simplifies employee training and maximizes the speed and
convenience of purchasing and using gift cards in busy sports and
entertainment venues.

InvenTrak's success is largely due to the special features

designed specifically for a chaotic, fast-paced retail environment.
It's impossible to reschedule a game or stop a show, so there is
no making up for lost time if the network goes down. InvenTrak
can operate offline, ensuring nearly zero down time. Once the
network is back online, all transactions and inventory changes
are instantly communicated to the back office.

“SROne's experience in the industry has shown us that you can't

assume two or three products will serve every merchant's needs.
InvenTrak provides the specialty retail industry with a more
convenient, customized solution, in tune with their specific
needs,” Kevin Colaco, President of SROne, said. “Our partnership
with STS gives our customers the ability to process gift cards
efficiently, right at the POS without any additional training, which
is critical to retailers in our industry.”

For more information about the STS gift and loyalty card
programs for the sports and entertainment industry, contact STS
at 888-494-9760 or visit www.smarttransactions.com.

About Specialty Retail One

Specialty Retail One is a rapidly growing company due to its
ability to provide merchants with unique POS solutions. Retailers
have been quick to adopt InvenTrak, not only because of its easy
installation and intuitive POS interface, but also because of its
exceptional, web-based back office. Using the back office, which
is connected to all POS through a central administration server
(CAS), retailers have access to extensive reporting, inventory
tracking, employee productivity, cash balances at all registers,
and can modify prices remotely. All POS across multiple locations
will see the changes instantly.

About Smart Transactions

Founded in 1998, Smart Transaction Systems provides card-based
payment systems, customer loyalty and customer relationship
management (CRM) programs to a wide variety of companies. For
small to medium-sized businesses, Smart Transaction Systems
provides hosted gift card and loyalty programs that are reliable,
easy to use, and affordable. For larger organizations, the
company provides powerful transaction processing systems that
allow these organizations to bring gift, loyalty, and private label
credit card programs in-house so they can gain maximum control
of these programs. Smart Transaction Systems has operations in
Boulder, Colorado, Lodi, Wisconsin, St. Louis, Missouri and Oslo,
Norway.