Apparatus and method for aggregating web services

• US 7,552,170 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Owen, Russell Norman, Yach, David Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell; Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): RECEK, JASON D
• Application Number:
  US10/786,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 715/744
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/289 Intermediate processing functionally located close to the data consumer application, e.g. in same machine, in same home or in same sub-network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/567 Integrating service provisioning from a plurality of service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An apparatus and method for aggregating web services in generating a user interface for a computing device. Web service descriptions are received that define a web service interface to each of a plurality of web services. The web service descriptions are processed to identify inputs to first web services obtainable by invoking one or more second web services. A user interface is generated for the computing device that aggregates these first and second web services. By identifying instances in which the input to one web service may be obtained by invoking another web service, a user interface which aggregates these web services may be automatically generated.

Claims

1. A method of aggregating web services in generating a user interface for a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving at least one web service description, wherein said at least one web service description comprises a plurality of web service description elements that define a web service interface to each of a plurality of web services;

processing said at least one web service description to identify inputs to and outputs from associated web services;

generating one or more user interfaces through which input data is obtainable and output data is displayable;

providing said one or more user interfaces, wherein in use, at least a subset of said plurality of web services is invoked using input data obtained through said one or more user interfaces, and wherein output data is displayed through said one or more user interfaces from said at least a subset of said plurality of web services;

monitoring said input data obtained and said output data displayed during use of said one or more user interfaces to identify patterns in said input data and said output data that suggest that an input to a first web service of said plurality of web services is obtainable from output of a second web service of said plurality of web services; and

generating a new user interface for said computing device if said patterns are identified, wherein in use, the first web service is automatically invoked using output data from the second web service when the second web service is invoked through said new user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said new user interface is adapted to display output data from said first web service.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating code for said user interface, and storing said code in a storage device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of transmitting said code from said storage device to said computing device.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising executing said code on said computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said new user interface is adapted to prompt for input data and receive said input data in said new user interface for invoking said second web service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said patterns are identified by detecting instances where said input data obtained through said one or more user interfaces matches output data displayed through said one or more user interfaces.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said patterns are identified by detecting instances in which selected data from output data displayed to said at least one user through said one or more user interfaces is copied to an input field on said one or more user interfaces, in which data in said input field is used to invoke a web service.

9. An apparatus programmed to perform a method of aggregating web services in generating a user interface for a physical computing device, comprising a microprocessor configured to perform acts comprising:

receiving at least one web service description, wherein said at least one web service description comprises a plurality of web service description elements that define a web service interface to each of a plurality of web services;

processing said at least one web service description to identify inputs to and outputs from associated web services;

generating one or more user interfaces through which input data is obtainable and output data is displayable;

providing said one or more user interfaces, wherein in use, at least a subset of said plurality of web services is invoked using input data obtained through said one or more user interfaces, and wherein output data is displayed through said one or more user interfaces from said at least a subset of said plurality of web services;

monitoring said input data obtained and said output data displayed during use of said one or more user interfaces to identify patterns in said input data and said output data that suggest that an input to a first web service of said plurality of web services is obtainable from output of a second web service of said plurality of web services; and

generating a new user interface for said computing device if said patterns are identified, wherein in use, the first web service is automatically invoked using output data from the second web service when the second web service is invoked through said new user interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a mobile device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said new user interface is adapted to display output data from said first web service.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, said acts further comprising generating code for said user interface, and storing said code in a storage device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, said acts further comprising transmitting said code from said storage device to said computing device.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, said acts further comprising executing said code on said computing device.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said new user interface is adapted to prompt for input data and receive said input data in said new user interface for invoking said second web service.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said patterns are identified by detecting instances where said input data obtained through said one or more user interfaces matches output data displayed through said one or more user interfaces.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said patterns are identified by detecting instances in which selected data from output data displayed to said at least one user through said one or more user interfaces is copied to an input field on said one or more user interfaces, in which data in said input field is used to invoke a web service.

18. A physical computer-readable medium upon which a set of software components is stored, the software components containing instructions for performing the steps in a method of aggregating web services in generating a user interface for a computing device, the instructions for:

receiving at least one web service description, wherein said at least one web service description comprises a plurality of web service description elements that define a web service interface to each of a plurality of web services;

processing said at least one web service description to identify inputs to and outputs from associated web services;

generating one or more user interfaces through which input data is obtainable and output data is displayable;

providing said one or more user interfaces, wherein in use, at least a subset of said plurality of web services is invoked using input data obtained through said one or more user interfaces, and wherein output data is displayed through said one or more user interfaces from said at least a subset of said plurality of web services;

monitoring said input data obtained and said output data displayed during use of said one or more user interfaces to identify patterns in said input data and said output data that suggest that an input to a first web service of said plurality of web services is obtainable from output of a second web service of said plurality of web services; and

generating a new user interface for said computing device if said patterns are identified, wherein in use, the first web service is automatically invoked using output data from the second web service when the second web service is invoked through said new user interface.