Abstract: The present invention enables desktop applications to access web services through Plug-ins and a Web Service Proxy Server. An administrator registers a web service by providing the URL of the WSDL file of the web service. The target desktop applications and the operations are identified using the WSDL file. Operations that are not compatible with the desktop applications are removed from a published list of operations. The administrator appends additional formatting information, communication standards and security policies to the WSDL file. A user accessing the web services is first authenticated and authorized. Thereafter, the user accesses the web services through Web Service Proxy Server. The communication with the web services complies with the standards and security policies specified in the WSDL files. The output data obtained from the web services are presented using template documents. These template documents are generated based on the formatting information provided in the WSDL files.

Abstract: Techniques suitable for facilitating communications between various computer programs operating on various nodes in a distributed computing environment are disclosed. The techniques can be used by a traffic manager operating in such environments. The traffic manager is capable of monitoring traffic exchanged between client and server programs operating in the distributed computing environment. Moreover, the traffic manager can be used to implement a variety of desirable features across different computing environments. These computing environments are typically separated by one or more distinguishing characteristics. As will be appreciated, the traffic manager provides an integral and cost effective solution which can bridge these distinguishing characteristics as well as define and enforce policies across disparate computing environments. This is achieved by centralizing the generation of interfaces which allow interaction between any of the nodes in a distributed computing system.

Abstract: The present invention enables desktop applications to access web services through Plug-ins and a Web Service Proxy Server. An administrator registers a web service by providing the URL of the WSDL file of the web service. The target desktop applications and the operations are identified using the WSDL file. Operations that are not compatible with the desktop applications are removed from a published list of operations. The administrator appends additional formatting information, communication standards and security policies to the WSDL file. A user accessing the web services is first authenticated and authorized. Thereafter, the user accesses the web services through Web Service Proxy Server. The communication with the web services complies with the standards and security policies specified in the WSDL files. The output data obtained from the web services are presented using template documents. These template documents are generated based on the formatting information provided in the WSDL files.