Abstract: An apparatus and method for service classification are provided. The apparatus and method make use of canonical service descriptions which designate minimum requirements for a service to be classified into a corresponding classification. Based on the canonical service description, it can be determined whether a service that wishes to be classified into a particular classification of a taxonomy on a service broker meets the minimum requirements for that classification. Furthermore, the use of canonical service descriptions ensures that all services classified into a particular classification have a minimum level of functionality that will allow them to function properly when invoked.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing the processing of a document. A set of services registered for use in processing a document received from a client is identified in which registration information for each service within the set of services provides input requirements. A service from the set of registered services is selected to form a selected service by comparing a current state of the document with the input requirements for each service within the set of registered services. Execution of the selected service on the document is initiated, wherein a state transition occurs to a new state, which becomes the current state of the document processing system. The document processing system state is comprised of a collection of information fragments (tuples) which represent the set of documents currently being processed and the state of each document currently being processed. The selecting step and the initiating step are repeated until a response is returned to the client.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing the processing of a document. A set of services registered for use in processing a document received from a client is identified in which registration information for each service within the set of services provides input requirements. A service from the set of registered services is selected to form a selected service by comparing a current state of the document with the input requirements for each service within the set of registered services. Execution of the selected service on the document is initiated, wherein a state transition occurs to a new state, which becomes the current state of the document processing system. The document processing system state is comprised of a collection of information fragments (tuples) which represent the set of documents currently being processed and the state of each document currently being processed. The selecting step and the initiating step are repeated until a response is returned to the client.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for service classification verification. The present invention makes use of canonical service description tests which designate minimum requirements for a service to be classified into a corresponding classification. Based on the canonical service description tests, it can be determined whether a service that wishes to be classified into a particular classification of a taxonomy on a service broker meets the minimum requirements for that classification. Furthermore, the use of canonical service description tests ensures that all services classified into a particular classification have a minimum level of functionality that will allow them to function properly when invoked.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for service classification are provided. The apparatus and method make use of canonical service descriptions which designate minimum requirements for a service to be classified into a corresponding classification. Based on the canonical service description, it can be determined whether a service that wishes to be classified into a particular classification of a taxonomy on a service broker meets the minimum requirements for that classification. Furthermore, the use of canonical service descriptions ensures that all services classified into a particular classification have a minimum level of functionality that will allow them to function properly when invoked.