Cloud service bus and cloud services brokerage platform comprising same

Abstract

A cloud service integration structure of a cloud services brokering platform comprises a workflow engine and plurality of provisioning adapters. The workflow engine is configured to support workflow definitions for cloud services of various types and for cloud service providers each offering one or more of the cloud services. The plurality of provisioning adapters are each configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers to enable tasks required for provisioning of the cloud services to be performed therewith.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cloud service integration structure of a cloud services brokering platform, comprising:
 a workflow engine configured to support workflow definitions for cloud services of various types and for cloud service providers each offering one or more of the cloud services; and   a plurality of provisioning adapters each configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers to enable tasks required for provisioning of the cloud services to be performed therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The cloud services integration structure of  claim 1  wherein being configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers includes being configured to implement one or more specific provisioning application programming interfaces (APIs) for each operation of a respective one of the tasks that is mapped to one or more corresponding service provider APIs. 
     
     
         3 . The cloud services integration structure of  claim 1  wherein the workflow engine and the provisioning adapters are jointly configured for enabling execution of the tasks in a parallel and asynchronous manner with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers. 
     
     
         4 . The cloud services integration structure of  claim 4  wherein being configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers includes being configured to implement one or more specific provisioning application programming interfaces (APIs) for each operation of a respective one of the tasks that is mapped to one or more corresponding service provider APIs. 
     
     
         5 . The cloud services integration structure of  claim 1  wherein the workflow engine invokes a protocol library using at least one of metadata for one or more service providers and credentials for one or more service providers. 
     
     
         6 . The cloud services integration structure of  claim 1  wherein the workflow engine and the provisioning adapters support APIs of a plurality of the service providers. 
     
     
         7 . The cloud services integration structure of  claim 6  wherein the workflow engine and the provisioning adapters are jointly configured for enabling execution of the tasks in a parallel and asynchronous manner with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers. 
     
     
         8 . The cloud services integration structure of  claim 7  wherein the workflow engine invokes a protocol library using metadata for one or more service providers and credentials for one or more service providers. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one processor, coupled to said memory, and operative to:   perform brokering of cloud services offered by a plurality of cloud service providers on behalf of a plurality of cloud service consumers;   determine tasks required for provisioning of the cloud services brokered on behalf of the cloud service consumers; and   use one or more provisioning adapters to execute the tasks with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein at least a portion of the one or more provisioning adapters is configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein being configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers includes being configured to implement one or more specific provisioning application programming interfaces (APIs) for each operation of a respective one of the tasks that is mapped to one or more corresponding service provider APIs. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein a plurality of the tasks are executed in a parallel and asynchronous manner with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein being operative to use one or more provisioning adapters to execute the tasks includes being operative to invoke a protocol library using at least one of metadata for one or more service providers and credentials for one or more service providers. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein being operative to use one or more provisioning adapters to execute the tasks includes being operative to support APIs of a plurality of the service providers. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein a plurality of the tasks are executed in a parallel and asynchronous manner with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 performing brokering of cloud services offered by a plurality of cloud service providers on behalf of a plurality of cloud service consumers;   determining tasks required for provisioning of the cloud services brokered on behalf of the cloud service consumers; and   accessing one or more provisioning adapters for enabling execution of the tasks with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the one or more provisioning adapters is configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17  wherein being configured for integrating with one or more of the cloud service providers includes being configured to implement one or more specific provisioning application programming interfaces (APIs) for each operation of a respective one of the tasks that is mapped to one or more corresponding service provider APIs. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16  wherein enabling execution of the tasks includes enabling a plurality of the tasks to be executed in a parallel and asynchronous manner with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16  wherein enabling execution of the tasks includes invoking a protocol library using metadata for one or more service providers and credentials for one or more service providers. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16  wherein enabling execution of the tasks includes supporting APIs of a plurality of the service providers. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21  wherein enabling execution of the tasks includes enabling a plurality of the tasks to be executed in a parallel and asynchronous manner with respect to the cloud services and cloud service providers.