Enabling Existing Desktop Applications To Access Web Services Through The Use of a Web Service Proxy

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.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method implemented by a processor for registering a web service, the method comprising:
 supplying a web service for a target desktop application to a publishing module, the publishing module configured to determine compatibility of the web service with the target desktop application and generate an error message;   receiving, from the publishing module, the error message identifying an incompatibility between the web service and the target desktop application; and   correcting, in response to receiving the error message, the identified incompatibility to configure the web service to be compatible with the target desktop application.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein supplying the web service comprises supplying an operation of the web service. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein supplying the web service comprises providing a location of a Web Service Description Language (WSDL) file of the web service. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein providing a location of the WSDL file comprises providing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the WSDL file. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein supplying the web services comprises using a Universal Description Discovery and Integration to supply the web service. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein correcting the identified incompatibility comprises appending the WSDL file with compatibility information about the web service. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the compatibility information comprises information about at least one of formatting, a communication standard and a security policy. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the error message specifies an incompatibility between an operation of the web service and an operation of the target desktop application. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein correcting the identified incompatibility comprises removing the incompatible operation from the web service. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the error message specifies an incompatibility in at least one of formatting, communication standard and security policy between the web service and the target desktop application. 
     
     
         30 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium storing a computer-executable program, wherein the computer-executable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform steps comprising:
 supplying a web service for a target desktop application to a publishing module, the publishing module configured to determine compatibility of the web service with the target desktop application and generate an error message;   receiving, from the publishing module, the error message identifying an incompatibility between the web service and the target desktop application; and   correcting, in response to receiving the error message, the identified incompatibility to configure the web service to be compatible with the target desktop application.   
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 30  wherein supplying the web service comprises supplying an operation of the web service. 
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 30  wherein supplying the web service comprises providing a location of a Web Service Description Language (WSDL) file of the web service. 
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 32  wherein providing a location of the WSDL file comprises providing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of the WSDL file. 
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 32  wherein supplying the web service using a Universal Description Discovery and Integration to supply the web service. 
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 32  wherein correcting the identified incompatibility comprises appending the WSDL file with compatibility information about the web service. 
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 35  wherein the compatibility information comprises information about at least one of formatting, a communication standard and a security policy. 
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 30  wherein the error message specifies an incompatibility between an operation of the web service and an operation of the target desktop application. 
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 37  wherein correcting the identified incompatibility comprises removing the incompatible operation from the web service. 
     
     
         39 . The computer program product of  claim 30  wherein the error message specifies an incompatibility in at least one of formatting, communication standard and security policy between the web service and the target desktop application.