Overview
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a set of rules for encoding documents electronically. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C. It is rapidly becoming the protocol used for communicating data. AAMVA's membership recognizes the capability of XML to allow them to move existing applications to the Internet, and AAMVA is working to assist jurisdictions in this effort.
AAMVA needs to offer both the legacy AAMVA Message Interchange Envelope (AMIE) protocol and XML. AMIE is the legacy protocol for communicating over AAMVAnet. The majority of the jurisdictions computer environments and applications predate XML, so for those environments AAMVA continues to support the AMIE protocol. XML options are being made available in new applications and incorporated into the existing applications when revisions allow a XML option to be added.
Messages in AAMVA XML (MAX)
AAMVA developed MAX to be the XML counterpart of AMIE. The MAX protocol performs a similar function, but using XML and Web-services. MAX also provides the capability for an application to communicate with AAMVA's Unified Network Interface (UNI) using XML. MAX provides definitions of the control data needed for messages to operate through UNI and over AAMVAnet. The details are provided in the individual application specifications.
Applications using XML
Over the years AAMVA has developed a number of applications with a XML option. These applications are listed below, along with an indication of which XML standard was used. The standard that is currently being used for XML business data is called NIEM. These XML applications have been implemented by a number of state and federal agencies.