Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for designing a Web service that processes one or more composite messages. The same techniques may be applied to the design of clients of the Web service. The Web service is comprised of service logic and compositional logic. The service logic is comprised of a plurality of message handlers that process micro-messages of one or more composite messages. The compositional logic is comprised of a plurality of protocol demultiplexers that implement Web service functionality for demultiplexing, sequencing, and multiplexing one or more composite messages. The compositional logic is separated from the service logic, such that the service logic does not include operations for demultiplexing, sequencing, or multiplexing the composite messages.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for specifying Web service interfaces and for processing Web service messages using protocol multiplexing. A Web service comprised of a plurality of sub-services (or clients of the Web service) are designed in accordance with the present invention by analyzing a plurality of micro-protocols between two or more of the sub-services, the Web service, and one or more clients of the Web service. A composite message is created if a plurality of messages of the micro-protocols have the same sender and receiver and belong to compatible message sequences. The present invention ensures that the execution of two or more message handlers is based on a defined execution order, when one or more collaborations of the micro-protocols are dependent on other collaborations.