Abstract: A method for costing a web service operable for querying one or more data sources, the method including calculating the cost of operating the web service, measuring web service usage data using one or more service metrics, wherein the one or more service metrics include at least one derived service metric, choosing at least one service metric from the one or more service metrics, wherein one or more of the at least one chosen service metrics is a derived service metric, calculating the cost of the web service based on the at least one chosen service metric, and charging for usage of the web service based upon the calculated cost of the web service.

Abstract: A method for costing a web service operable for querying one or more data sources, the method including calculating the cost of operating the web service, measuring web service usage data using one or more service metrics, wherein the one or more service metrics include at least one derived service metric, choosing at least one service metric from the one or more service metrics, wherein one or more of the at least one chosen service metrics is a derived service metric, calculating the cost of the web service based on the at least one chosen service metric, and charging for usage of the web service based upon the calculated cost of the web service.

Abstract: A method for operating a web service to search one or more data sources, the method including receiving a query directed to a first data source, wherein the first data source defines at least one characteristic of at least one first data object returned by the query, receiving at least one first data object from the first data source in response to querying the first data source, retrieving linked relationships between the at least one first data object and one or more second data objects from a second data source, receiving the one or more second data objects from the second data source in response to querying the second data source, generating a composite data object in response to the received query, the composite data object including the at least one first data object and the one or more second data objects formatted as markup language.

Abstract: A method for operating a web service to search one or more data sources, the method including receiving a query directed to a first data source, wherein the first data source defines at least one characteristic of at least one first data object returned by the query, receiving at least one first data object from the first data source in response to querying the first data source, retrieving linked relationships between the at least one first data object and one or more second data objects from a second data source, receiving the one or more second data objects from the second data source in response to querying the second data source, generating a composite data object in response to the received query, the composite data object including the at least one first data object and the one or more second data objects formatted as markup language.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention may provide a method for operating a REST web service operable to search one or more data sources. In some embodiments, the invention may comprise receiving a query directed to a first data source, wherein the first data source defines at least one characteristic of at least one first data object returned by the query. Some embodiments of the invention may comprise querying the first data source. Various embodiments of the invention may comprise receiving at least one first data object from the first data source in response to querying the first data source. In some embodiments, the invention may comprise retrieving linked relationships between the at least one first data object and one or more second data objects from a second data source. Some embodiments of the invention may comprise querying the second data source for information on the one or more second data objects.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention may provide a method for operating a REST web service operable to search one or more data sources. In some embodiments, the invention may comprise receiving a query directed to a first data source, wherein the first data source defines at least one characteristic of at least one first data object returned by the query. Some embodiments of the invention may comprise querying the first data source. Various embodiments of the invention may comprise receiving at least one first data object from the first data source in response to querying the first data source. In some embodiments, the invention may comprise retrieving linked relationships between the at least one first data object and one or more second data objects from a second data source. Some embodiments of the invention may comprise querying the second data source for information on the one or more second data objects.