Computer-implemented system and method for transparently interfacing with legacy line of business applications

1. A computer-implemented system for transparently interfacing with legacy line of business applications, comprising:

a line of business server configured to interface over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory, to execute a plurality of legacy line of business applications, each of which is separately implemented for at least one of business functionalities, and to interface a set of integration business adapters to each of the legacy line of business applications, each legacy line of business application being configured to implement business logic for a specific business need, each integration business adapter comprising at least one of a business application programming interface, remote function call, and remote-enabled function module and being configured to communicate with each of the legacy line of business applications and to express relational structured data of the legacy line of business applications;

a client system configured to interface over the computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory, and to execute a dashboard application into which a plurality of portal applications are installed for the legacy line of business applications and integrated as a collaboration platform for a plurality of business functionalities; and

an enterprise collaboration server communicatively interposed between the line of business server and the client system and configured to interface over the computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory, the enterprise collaboration server comprising software being configured to provide data access framework coupled to the dashboard application through a user interface layer and an enterprise service bus coupled to the legacy line of business applications through their respective integration business adapter and to the data access framework, the enterprise service bus comprising a set of adapters and being configured to directly communicate with the set of integration business adapters that correspond to the set of adapters, the data access framework being configured to interface with a metadata database and maintain enterprise system credentials for all the legacy line of business applications and user profile data stored in the metadata database, to match each of the user profile data with the enterprise system credentials, and to provide the user access to at least one the legacy line of business applications provided at least one of the user profile data matches with one or more of the enterprise system credentials and further to provide business objects incorporating the business logic required to operate on the relational structured data directly within the dashboard application, the user interface layer being configured to dynamically modify the portal application in the dashboard application based on changes, additions, and deletions directly on the relational structured data.

2. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the line of business server further configured to extract content from a data source associated with the legacy line of business application and to translate the extracted content into another form of content for use by the dashboard application.

3. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

the enterprise collaboration server further configured to implement the dashboard application and to provide a user interface to each portal application.

4. A computer-implemented system according to claim 3 , further comprising:

the enterprise collaboration server coupled to the user interface layer and configured to organize local enterprise information,

wherein the local enterprise information is accessible via the dashboard application through the user interface layer.

5. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

business data retrieved from a business data catalog executed by the enterprise collaboration server and configured to supplement the dashboard application.

6. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

controls within the dashboard application executed by the client system to modify content, appearance, and behavior of the at least one portal application.

7. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

the enterprise collaboration server further configured to convert and to supply data to the at least one widget application; and

the enterprise collaboration server further configured to convert and to supply data to Web services provided through the dashboard application.

8. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein sets of portal applications executed by the client system selected from the group comprises manager functions, employee functions, personal administration, compensation, time management, sales and distribution, customer relation management, order entry, and opportunity management.

9. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

a set of rules executed by the enterprise collaboration server and configured to express business policy and to implement the business logic; and

a workflow executed by the enterprise collaboration server and configured to enumerate ordered tasks and to define information flow between entities and implementing the business logic.

10. A computer-implemented method for transparently interfacing with legacy line of business applications, comprising:

executing a plurality of legacy line of business applications on a line of business server interfacing over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory, each of legacy line of business application being separately implemented for at least one of business functionalities, and interfacing a set of integration business adapters to each of the legacy line of business applications, each legacy line of business application implementing business logic for a specific business need, each integration business adapter comprising at least one of a business application programming interface, remote function call, and remote-enabled function module and communicating with each of the legacy line of business applications and expressing relational structured data of the legacy line of business applications;

executing a dashboard application on a client system interfacing over a computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory, into which a plurality of portal applications are installed for the legacy line of business applications and integrated as a collaboration platform for a plurality of business functionalities; and

executing an enterprise collaboration server communicatively interposed between the line of business server and the client system and interfacing over the computer network and comprising a memory and a computer processor, the computer processor operatively coupled to the memory, comprising:

providing a data access framework coupled to the dashboard application through a user interface layer, the data access framework interfacing with a metadata database and maintaining enterprise system credentials for all the legacy line of business applications and user profile data stored in the metadata database, matching each of the user profile data with the enterprise system credentials, and providing the user access to at least one the legacy line of business applications provided at least one of the user profile data matches with one or more of the enterprise system credentials and providing business objects incorporating the business logic required to operate on the relational structured data directly within the dashboard application, the user interface layer dynamically modifying the portal application in the dashboard application based on changes, additions, and deletions directly on the relational structured data; and

providing an enterprise service bus coupled to the legacy line of business applications through their respective integration business adapter and to the data access framework, the enterprise service bus comprising a set of adapters and being configured to directly communicate with the set of integration business adapters that correspond to the set of adapters.

11. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

providing a wrapper for extracting content from a data source associated with the legacy line of business application and translating the extracted content into another form of content for use by the dashboard application.

12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

implementing the dashboard application as a Web application framework providing a user interface to each portal application.

13. A computer-implemented method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

organizing local enterprise information through a site collection component comprised in the enterprise collaboration server with a document library and a Web subsite and coupled to the user interface layer,

wherein the document library and a Web subsite are accessible via the dashboard application through the user interface layer.

14. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

supplementing the dashboard application with business data retrieved from a business data catalog.

15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

including controls within the dashboard application to modify content, appearance, and behavior of the at least one portal application.

16. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one of:

including a set of mappers that convert and supply data to the at least one portal application; and

including a set of providers that convert and supply data to Web services provided through the dashboard application.

17. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

providing sets of portal applications selected from the group comprising manager functions, employee functions, personal administration, compensation, time management, sales and distribution, customer relation management, order entry, and opportunity management.

18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10 , further comprising at least one of:

implementing the business logic through a set of rules that express business policy; and

implementing the business logic as a workflow, which enumerates ordered tasks and define information flow between entities.