Composition of Services

Abstract

A method of generating a set of composite services is provided herein. The method includes receiving standardized service descriptions of a set of component services from service providers. The standardized description of a component service may be translated to an automaton-based description. A specified goal associated with the set of component services may be received. The set of composite services may be generated based on the automaton-based description and the specified goal. Each of the generated composite services may accomplish the specified goal.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of generating a set of composite services, comprising:
 receiving standardized service descriptions of a set of component services from one or more service providers;   translating the standardized descriptions of the set of component services to automaton-based descriptions, wherein the automaton-based descriptions represent availability of input or output data in a translated input-output (I/O) model and value of state variables used in preconditions and effects in a translated precondition-effect (P/E) model; and   receiving a specified goal associated with the set of component services;   generating the set of composite services based on the automaton-based descriptions and the specified goal, wherein each composite service in the set of composite services accomplishes the specified goal.   
     
     
         22 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the standardized service descriptions comprises:
 an input-output (I/O) model description;   a precondition-effect (P/E) model description; and   a stateful model description.   
     
     
         23 . The method recited in  claim 21 , comprising generating the standardized service descriptions by adding a syntax to a reference document describing the service. 
     
     
         24 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein the specified goal describes an initial state and a goal state for the service, and wherein the set of composite services achieves the goal state from the initial state. 
     
     
         25 . The method recited in  claim 21 , wherein each of the set of composite services comprises an automaton. 
     
     
         26 . The method recited in  claim 25 , wherein the automaton comprises a plurality of alternative paths to a composition goal from an initial state. 
     
     
         27 . The method recited in  claim 25 , comprising selecting one or more composite services from the set of composite services. 
     
     
         28 . The method recited in  claim 27 , wherein selecting the one or more composite services is based on one of:
 non-functional criteria;   a cost of performing the selected composite services;   a response time of the selected composite services; and   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         29 . A computer system for generating a set of composite services, comprising:
 an event processing pipeline, comprising:   a memory storing instructions;   a processor configured to execute the instructions to:
 translate a standardized service description of a service to an automaton-based description, wherein the automaton-based description represents availability of input or output data in a translated input-output (I/O) model and value of state variables used in preconditions and effects in a translated precondition-effect (P/E) model; and 
 generate the set of composite services based on the automaton-based description and a specified goal. 
   
     
     
         30 . The computer system recited in  claim 29 , wherein the standardized service description comprises:
 an input-output (I/O) model description;   a precondition-effect (P/E) model description; and   a stateful model description.   
     
     
         31 . The computer system recited in  claim 29 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to generate the standardized service description by executing instructions to add a syntax to a reference document describing the service. 
     
     
         32 . The computer system recited in  claim 29 , wherein the specified goal describes an initial state and a goal state for the service, and the set of composite services achieves the goal state from the initial state. 
     
     
         33 . The computer system recited in  claim 29 , wherein each of the set of composite services comprises an automaton. 
     
     
         34 . The computer system recited in  claim 33 , wherein the automaton comprises a plurality of alternative paths to a composition goal from an initial state. 
     
     
         35 . The computer system recited in  claim 29 , wherein the processor is configured to select one or more composite services from the set of composite services. 
     
     
         36 . The computer system recited in  claim 35 , wherein the processor is configured to select the one or more composite services, based on one of:
 non-functional criteria;   a cost of performing the selected composite services;   a response time of the selected composite services; and   combinations thereof.   
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions executable by a processor to:
 translate a standardized service description of a service to an automaton-based description,
 wherein the standardized service description comprises:
 an input-output (I/O) model description; 
 a precondition-effect (P/E) model description; and 
 a stateful model description, and 
 
 wherein the automaton-based description represents availability of input or output data in a translated input-output (I/O) model and value of state variables used in preconditions and effects in a translated precondition-effect (P/E) model; and 
   generate, using a parallel operator, a set of composite services based on the automaton-based description and a specified goal describing an initial state and a goal state for the service, wherein the set of composite services changes the initial state to the goal state.   
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium recited in  claim 37 , wherein each of the set of composite services comprises an automaton, wherein the automaton comprises a plurality of alternative paths to a composition goal from an initial state. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium recited in  claim 37 , comprising machine-readable instructions executable by a processor to select one or more composite services from the set of composite services. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium recited in  claim 39 , wherein the machine-readable instructions executable by the processor to select the one or more composite services, based on one of:
 non-functional criteria;   a cost of performing the selected composite services;   a response time of the selected composite services; and   combinations thereof.