Systems and methods for web service function, definition, implementation, and/or execution

• US 7,665,064 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GT Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GT Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Able, Steve L., Martin, Roland S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US11/129,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 717104-105, 717109-110, 717123-124, 717/117, 709/203, 709/232, 709/246, 707/100, 707/104.1, 719/310, 719/328, 713/153
• US Class Current: 717/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for defining, implementing, deploying and/or executing Web services. A Web service is defined using a graphical interface that allows the application developer to specify the operation of the Web service through inclusion and configuration of graphical nodes representing particular operations and/or functions. The environment for definition typically includes a user input device, a graphical display device, a system data store and a system processor. The system processor is in communication with the other elements. A graphical definition of the Web service is stored in the system data store. Once defined, the graphical definition is convened into a programmatic implementation executable by a Web services server. This programmatic implementation can then be transmitted to an appropriate Web services server accessible by an intended user community.

Claims

1. A system to facilitate the definition of a composite web service configured to support application flow and processing using a plurality of mainframe applications via a single simple object access protocol request, the composite web service providing access to multiple applications in a single web service by combining functions from the plurality of mainframe applications, the system comprising a system data store and a system processor and further comprising:

a modeler configured to interface with a user to enable the user to generate an application flow, the modeler including a graphical interface for building the application flow and data movements between the plurality of mainframe applications, the modeler creating one or more flow rules, generated as instructions in web services description language, to build the composite web service,

wherein the modeler enables the user to define functionality required from the plurality of mainframe applications to be provided in the composite web service, wherein the composite web service includes at least one call to a mainframe application, and

wherein the application flow is formed by a plurality of connected graphical objects and the application flow through various nodes controls logic processing for the plurality of mainframe applications which provide the user-defined composite web service functionality, and

wherein the modeler includes a debugger configured to;

receive user-defined inputs and expected outputs for processing of the flow rules via the graphical interface, wherein the user-defined inputs and expected outputs are defined by each node and the web services description language instructions are created from properties entered into the graphical interface by the user,

step through the flow rules, wherein the step through includes at least one call to a mainframe application,

trace results of the step through,

provide the trace results to the user via the graphical interface, and

verify syntax of those flow rules that control execution of the plurality of mainframe applications by tracing a logic path for a connection included in the application flow to ensure a correct flow is processed by a requested web service operation, wherein syntax is verified each time a node connection is attempted to ensure a valid logic path and that node connection rules are correct; and

a manager configured to parse the flow rules to generate a programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution on a web services server,

wherein the modeler is configured to utilize the debugger to verify the one or more flow rules of the composite web service by checking properties and connections between the nodes to ensure the flow rules are complete and valid prior to the modeler deploying the flow rules to the manager for generation of the programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution on the web services server.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a web services server, wherein the web services server is configured (1) to receive a request from at least one web services client requesting the composite web service defined at the web services server and (2) to respond to the received request with an encoding of results generated by performing the requested composite web service.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the web services server comprises a rules engine configured to process the programmatic implementation of the composite web service.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the manager is configured to generate the programmatic implementation following standards defined in a web services description language file.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the modeler comprises a library comprising at least one of standard functions and defined functions.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the library comprises one or more user defined functions defined using the modeler.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of mainframe applications include an electronic commerce application, and wherein the user-defined functionality for the composite web service includes electronic commerce.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the modeler is further configured to enable the user to define one or more work variables for use within the composite or single use web services.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the modeler is further configured to enable the user to orchestrate interactions between a first and a second mainframe application from the plurality of mainframe applications.

10. One or more computer readable media having software program code to facilitate the definition of a composite web service configured to support application flow and processing using a plurality of mainframe applications via a single simple object access protocol request, the composite web service providing access to multiple applications in a single web service by combining functions from the plurality of mainframe applications, the program code comprising:

modeler logic configured to interface with a user to enable the user to generate an application flow, the modeler logic including a graphical interface for building the application flow and data movements between the plurality of mainframe applications, the modeler logic creating one or more flow rules, generated as instructions in web services description language, to build the composite web service,

wherein the modeler logic enables the user to define functionality required from the plurality of mainframe applications to be provided in the composite web service, wherein the composite web service includes at least one call to a mainframe application, and

wherein the application flow is formed by a plurality of connected graphical objects and the application flow through various nodes controls logic processing for the plurality of mainframe applications which provide the user-defined composite web service functionality, and

wherein the modeler logic includes debugger logic configured to;

receive user-defined inputs and expected outputs for processing of the flow rules via the graphical interface, wherein the user-defined inputs and expected outputs are defined by each node and the web services description language instructions are created from properties entered into the graphical interface by the user,

step through the flow rules, wherein the step through includes at least one call to a mainframe application,

trace results of the step through,

provide the trace results to the user via the graphical interface, and

verify syntax of those flow rules that control execution of the plurality of mainframe applications by tracing a logic path for a connection included in the application flow to ensure a correct flow is processed by a requested web service operation, wherein syntax is verified each time a node connection is attempted to ensure a valid logic path and that node connection rules are correct; and

manager logic configured to parse the flow rules to generate a programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution on a web services server,

wherein the modeler logic is configured to utilize the debugger to verify the one or more flow rules of the composite web service by checking properties and connections between the nodes to ensure the flow rules are complete and valid prior to the modeler logic deploying the flow rules to the manager logic for generation of the programmatic implementation of the composite web service description for execution on the web services server.

11. The computer readable media of claim 10, wherein the modeler logic is further configured to provide output to the user in the form of the flow rules.

12. The computer readable media of claim 10, wherein the modeler logic is further configured to enable the user to choose among a plurality of flow rules functions to define the composite web service definition.

13. The computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the plurality of flow rules functions include at least two node types selected from the group consisting of a start node, a web service node, a link point node, a data movement node, a decision node, a loop node, a move-to-output node, a connector node, an end node, a calculation node, and a data source node.

14. The computer readable media of claim 12, wherein the plurality of flow rules functions include a web service node type.

15. The computer readable media of claim 10, wherein the modeler logic comprises orchestration logic configured to receive orchestration information from the user specifying interactions between the plurality of mainframe applications.

16. A system to facilitate the definition of a composite web service configured to support application flow and processing using a plurality of mainframe applications via a single simple object access protocol request, the composite web service providing access to multiple applications in a single web service by combining functions from the plurality of mainframe applications, the system comprising:

a) a graphical display device;

b) a user input device configured to be operable by a user;

c) a system data store configured to store one or more graphical, composite web service definitions; and

d) a system processor comprising one or more processing elements, wherein the system processor is in communication with the graphical display device, the user input device and the system data store and wherein the system processor is configured to;

provide a modeler interface with the graphical display device, the modeler interface being configured to enable the user to graphically define the composite web service using the user input device, wherein the modeler interface enables the user to generate an application flow, the modeler interface including a graphical interface for building the application flow and data movements between the plurality of mainframe applications, the modeler interface creating one or more flow rules, generated as instructions in web services description language, to build the composite web service,

wherein the modeler interface enables the user to define functionality required from the plurality of mainframe applications to be provided in the composite web service, wherein the composite web service includes at least one call to a mainframe application, and

wherein the application flow is formed by a plurality of connected graphical objects and the application flow through various nodes controls logic processing for the plurality of mainframe applications which provide the user-defined composite web service functionality, and

wherein the modeler interface includes a debug interface configured to;

receive user-defined inputs and expected outputs for processing of the flow rules via the graphical interface, wherein the user-defined inputs and expected outputs are defined by each node and the web services description language instructions are created from properties entered into the graphical interface by the user,

step through the flow rules, wherein the step through includes at least one call to a mainframe application,

trace results of the step through, and

provide, via the graphical interface on the graphical display device, the trace results, and

verify syntax of those flow rules that control execution of the plurality of mainframe applications by tracing a logic path for a connection included in the application flow to ensure a correct flow is processed by a requested web service operation, wherein syntax is verified each time a node connection is attempted to ensure a valid logic path and that node connection rules are correct,

display, on the graphical display device, a graphical representation of at least a portion of the user-defined, composite web service definition, and

store in the system data store a digital representation of graphically defined composite web service; and

provide a manager configured to parse the flow rules to generate a programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution on a web services server,

wherein the modeler interface is configured to utilize the debugger interface to verify the one or more flow rules of the composite web service by checking properties and connections between the nodes to ensure the flow rules are complete and valid prior to the modeler interface deploying the flow rules to the manager for generation of the programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution of the web services server.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a communication interface coupled to a communication channel enabling communication from the system processor to the web services server, wherein the system processor is further configured to transmit the programmatic implementation of the selected web service to the web services server via the communication interface.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the debug interface comprises a palette of at least one of standard functions and defined functions.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the palette comprises at least one defined function defined using the provided interface.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the palette comprises a web service node type.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the provided interface is further configured to enable the user to define one or more work variables for use within the graphically defined composite web service.

22. A method to facilitate the definition of a composite web service configured to support application flow and processing using a plurality of mainframe applications via a single simple object access protocol request, the composite web service providing access to multiple applications in a single web service by combining functions from the plurality of mainframe applications, the method comprising:

providing a modeler interface with a graphical display device, the modeler interface being configured to enable a user to graphically define the composite web service using a user input device, wherein the modeler interface enables the user to generate an application flow, the modeler interface including a graphical interface for building the application flow and data movements between the plurality of mainframe applications, the modeler interface creating one or more flow rules, generated as instructions in web services description language, to build the composite web service,

wherein the modeler interface is further configured to enable the user to define functionality required from the plurality of mainframe applications to be provided in the composite web service, wherein the composite web service includes at least one call to a mainframe application, and

wherein the application flow is formed by a plurality of connected graphical objects and the application flow through various nodes controls logic processing for the plurality of mainframe applications which provide the user-defined composite web service functionality, and

wherein the modeler interface includes a debug interface configured to;

receive user-defined inputs and expected outputs from processing of the flow rules,

step through the flow rules, wherein the step through includes at least one call to a mainframe application,

trace results of the step through,

provide, via the graphical interface on the graphical display device, the trace results to the user via the graphical interface on the graphical display, and

verify syntax of those flow rules that control execution of the plurality of mainframe applications by tracing a logic path for a connection included in the application flow to ensure a correct flow is processed by a requested web service operation, wherein syntax is verified each time a node connection is attempted to ensure a valid logic path and that node connection rules are correct;

providing a manager configured to parse the flow rules to generate a programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution on a web services server,

wherein the modeler interface is configured to utilize the debugger to verify the one or more flow rules of the composite web service by checking properties and connections between the nodes to ensure the flow rules are complete and valid prior to the modeler deploying the flow rules to the manager for generation of the programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution on the web services server;

displaying, on the graphical display device, a graphical representation of at least a portion of the user-defined, composite web service definition; and

storing, in a system data store, a digital representation of the graphically defined composite web service.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting the programmatic implementation of the composite web service to the web services server.

24. One or more computer readable media storing instructions that upon execution by a system processor cause the system processor to perform the method of claim 22.

25. The method of 22, wherein the provided interface is further configured to enable the user to define one or more work variables for use within the graphically defined composite web service.

26. A system to facilitate the definition of a composite web service configured to support application flow and processing using a plurality of mainframe applications via a single simple object access protocol request, the composite web service providing access to multiple applications in a single web service by combining function from the plurality of mainframe applications, the system comprising a system data storage means and a system processor and further comprising:

means for graphically defining the composite web service which includes a plurality of functions, wherein each function is of a type selected from the group consisting of a standard function and a user defined function, wherein the means for graphically defining the composite web service is configured to interface with a user to enable the user to generate an application flow, the means for graphically defining the composite web service including a graphical interface for building the application flow and data movements between the plurality of mainframe applications, the means for graphically defining the composite web service creating one or more flow rules to build the composite web service,

wherein the means for graphically defining the composite web service enables the user to define functionality required from the plurality of mainframe applications to be provided in the composite web service, wherein the composite web service includes at least one call to a mainframe application, and

wherein the application flow is formed by a plurality of connected graphical objects and the application flow through various nodes controls logic processing for the plurality of mainframe applications which provide the user-defined composite web service functionality, and

wherein the means for graphically defining the web service includes a means for debugging configured to;

receive user-defined inputs and expected outputs for processing of the flow rules via the graphical interface, wherein the user-defined inputs and expected outputs are defined by each node and the web services description language instructions are created from properties entered into the graphical interface by the user,

step through the flow rules, wherein the step through includes at least one call to a mainframe application,

trace results of the step through,

provide the trace results to the user via the graphical interface, and

verify syntax of those flow rules that control execution of the plurality of mainframe applications by tracing a logic path for a connection included in the application flow to ensure a correct flow is processed by a requested web service operation, wherein syntax is verified each time a node connection is attempted to ensure a valid logic path and that node connection rules are correct;

means for converting the graphically defined web service into a programmatic implementation operable to execute on a web services server,

wherein the means for graphically defining the composite web service is configured to utilize the means for debugging to verify the one or more flow rules of the composite web service by checking properties and connections between the nodes to ensure the flow rules are complete and valid prior to the means for graphically defining the composite web service deploying the flow rules to the means for converting for generation of the programmatic implementation of the composite web service for execution on the web services server.