Considerations of service assembly based on the analysis of data flows between services

Service composition research mostly focuses on the dynamic (workflow) aspects of compositions. In this paper we consider the static component of service composition and focus on analyzing the data flows between services within a composition. We argue that compatibility of service interfaces is a necessary precondition for service composability, and we show that data flow analysis can be applied to the problem of service composition design to identify compatible service interfaces and to minimize data coupling between services. © 2008 IEEE

Design of composable services

Service composition methods range from industry standard approaches based on Web Services and BPEL to Semantic Web approaches that rely on AI techniques to automate service discovery and composition. Service composition research mostly focuses on the dynamic (workflow) aspects of compositions. In this paper we consider the static component of service composition and discuss the importance of compatibility of service interfaces in ensuring the composability of services. Using a flight booking scenario example we show that reducing the granularity of services by decomposition into service operations with normalized interfaces produces compatible interfaces that facilitate service assembly. We then show how relational algebra can be used to represent service operations and provide a framework for service assembly. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Assessment of SOA Potentials in B2B Networks – Concept and Application to German Used Car Distribution Networks

Although service-oriented architecture (SOA) is supposed to increase external integration capabilities, it is mostly applied within company boundaries. How companies should apply SOA to improve their inter-organizational relationships is not, as yet, well understood. Although there are several examples of service-oriented concepts in the B2B context, there has been little research in which the different facets of SOA application are analyzed in inter-organizational relationships and B2B networks. This research aims at filling this gap. First, it identifies SOA potentials from literature and classifies them into a conceptual model for B2B networks. Second, it applies the conceptual model to used car distribution as a real-world scenario. This real-world example demonstrates that a SOA business case is highly situational and that key SOA capabilities need to be mapped to the specific industry context

Design of service interfaces for e-business applications using data normalization techniques

Web Services are being increasingly used for implementing large-scale e-business applications, but at present there is a lack of comprehensive methodologies based on sound engineering principles that can guide designers of service-oriented applications. This lack of methodological support is likely to lead to poorly designed and difficult to maintain e-business applications. In this paper we describe a design method for service-oriented applications that applies data engineering principles and the theoretical framework of data normalization to service design to produce a set of orthogonal services with normalized interfaces. We consider the impact of increasing service granularity on cohesion and coupling of service operations, and discuss associated design trade-offs. We use a travel example based on the Open Travel Alliance specification to illustrate how a document-oriented standard can be transformed into a set of well-designed service interfaces. © Springer-Verlag 2005