=== Architecture of Interoperable Information Systems =
An Architecture of interoperable information systems describes, how interoperating information systems can be efficiently designed and implemented. Since the invention of information system, concepts were created to describe how information systems can be connected to each other in an efficient manner. However, inIn the context of enterprise information systems, in 2010 also a concept named "Architecture of interoperableInteroperable informationInformation systemsSystems" (AIOS) was published.
== Definition ==
== Architecture of Information Systems ==
The automation of cross-organizational [[business process]]es is one of the most important trends of the information age. lnstead of a tight [[integration]] however, collaborating organizations rather strive for a loose coupling of their information systems. The information systems should be able to work together but retain as much independency as possible. This characteristic is also called [[interoperability]]. In the context of collaborating organizational systems that work together, the term '''Business Interoperability''' was proposed, reffering to the capability of autonomous organizations to execute a collaborative business process among them.
An [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/interface interface] represents the point of interconnection between two systems or subsystems. Since collaborative business always comprises interactions between organizational systems (e. g. enterprises or departments), interfaces are an essential element in the development of collaborative business processes. In the context of organizations working together, interface descriptions should describe those characteristics of a system that are relevant for adjacent systems.
While interfaces in information systems formerly concentrated on technical aspects, e.g. by describing [[Application Programming Interfaces]], recent developments like [[Service-oriented architecture|Service-oriented Architecture]] shifted the attention to conceptual interfaces aiming at a business-level description of services and organizational boundaries.
