Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a web-services interface for a web-service comprises a message binding extension element operable to specify a format for a message requesting the web-service and a binding details extension element operable to specify an availability status of at least one receipt for the message.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a web-services interface for a web-service comprises a security binding extension element operable to specify at least one security feature for a message transmitted to a service provider and a security algorithm extension element operable to specify at least one algorithm to be used for securing the message.

Abstract: A conversation definition language (CDL) is disclosed that programmers may use to define sequences of interactions for communicating with a web service to facilitate use of the web service. CDL enables web services provided by different entities to engage in flexible and autonomous interactions. Using CDL, services can communicate by exchanging messages, and the message exchanges are expected to follow a specific pattern (i.e., a conversation). CDL is used to define the conversation, such that a service may expect a particular message in response to transmitting a particular message. CDL includes document type descriptions, interactions and transitions for describing a conversation. The document type descriptions describe the messages that may be exchanged. The interactions describe the type of actions (e.g., receive and/or transmit a message) that may be performed, and the transitions describe the possible sequences of the interactions.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a web-services interface for a web-service comprises a message binding extension element operable to specify a format for a message requesting the web-service and a binding details extension element operable to specify an availability status of at least one receipt for the message.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a web-services interface for a web-service comprises an initial operations element operable to specify at least one operation of a plurality of operations of the web-service as an initial operation of the conversation, a final operations element operable to specify at least one operation of the plurality of operations as a final operation of the conversation, and a transitions element operable to specify a transition from at least one of the plurality of operations to at least another one of the plurality of operations.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a web-services interface for a web-service comprises a security binding extension element operable to specify at least one security feature for a message transmitted to a service provider and a security algorithm extension element operable to specify at least one algorithm to be used for securing the message.

Abstract: A conversation definition language (CDL) is disclosed that programmers may use to define sequences of interactions for communicating with a web service to facilitate use of the web service. CDL enables web services provided by different entities to engage in flexible and autonomous interactions. Using CDL, services can communicate by exchanging messages, and the message exchanges are expected to follow a specific pattern (i.e., a conversation). CDL is used to define the conversation, such that a service may expect a particular message in response to transmitting a particular message. CDL includes document type descriptions, interactions and transitions for describing a conversation. The document type descriptions describe the messages that may be exchanged. The interactions describe the type of actions (e.g., receive and/or transmit a message) that may be performed, and the transitions describe the possible sequences of the interactions.