Understanding Tivoli Process Automation Engine (TPAE) and Base Services

Answer

Tivoli's Process Automation Engine (TPAE)

Tivoli's Process Automation Engine (TPAE), also called Base Services, is a collection of core Java classes that can be used as a base to build Java applications. The benefit of using the TPAE architecture is that core functionality used in many Java applications does not need to be coded by the applications. Each application relies upon base classes to provide core functionality rather than having to code it into each application.

The TPAE layer can be considered a form of middleware in that, in some ways, it is not directly used as an application by the end user. However, just as a WebSphere administrator will use the console to configure security and other aspects of the configuration, base functionality is accessed through the application user interface (UI). Some of this base functionality includes, but is not limited to:

Chart of Accounts
Sites
Organizations
Reports
Users
Security Groups
Work Flow
Administrative Applications
Platform Configuration Application

Maximo Asset Management (MAM)
Tivoli Service Request Manager (TSRM) (discontinued)
Tivoli Asset Management for IT (TAMIT) (discontinued)
Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB) (discontinued)
SmartCloud Control Desk (SCCD); now IBM Control Desk (ICD)

Integration Framework (IF, also called MIF (Maximo Integration Framework); an older usage is MEA, for Maximo Enterprise Architecture)
Custom cron task scheduling and processing
Custom workflow processing
Custom escalation processing
Custom email listeners
BIRT JEE reporting
Application Server Security Integration (LDAP)
Dynamic data retrieval
Electronic signature enablement
Extensive application customization capability (without coding)
And more...