Abstract: A configuration management database system includes a plurality of configuration items. Each of the configuration items includes at least one property relating to a component of an IT system. The system also includes a plurality of intensional category definitions that provide dynamic categorization of the plurality of information items. Each of the intensional category definitions includes a predicate that is operable to identify an input one of the configuration items as a member of the category based on the at least one property in the input one of the configuration items. The configuration management database system also includes at least one pre-computed category membership data structure to support efficient processing of at least one query.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for representing an information topology on a computer, wherein the represented information topology comprises a plurality of information nodes and a plurality of states, representing a set of polices on the computer, wherein each policy expresses one or more requirements applied to the plurality of information nodes, and assessing compliance of the represented information topology by determining on the computer whether the plurality of states meet the requirements expressed in the plurality of policies.

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: A service provider protocol adapter servlet listens for service advertising requests. Each protocol is associated with a different servlet that understands the details of the service advertising mechanism unique to that protocol. The service provider protocol adapter servlet then converts the service advertisement from a service protocol into a canonical representation of service advertising and stores the advertisement in an internal registry. A client protocol adapter servlet listens for client lookup requests and looks up a corresponding service provider in the internal registry. As with service provider protocol adapter servlets, a different client protocol adapter servlet handles the details of client lookup for each particular protocol. The client protocol adapter servlet then converts a client request into a canonical representation of the request, which is then used to look up the service required by the client.

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: 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.