System and method for a unified interface to networked webservices

Abstract

A system and method for a function-as-a-service platform that includes creating a set of distinct webservices within a webservice hosting platform, which involves receiving a webservice resource definition, processing the webservice resource definition, and instantiating a webservice of the webservice resource definition within the webservice hosting platform; and invoking a webservice instantiated in the webservice hosting platform for a client device, which involves: receiving a webservice function call request, executing the webservice function call request on a webservice instance, and responding to the webservice function call request with a result of the webservice.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 creating a set of distinct webservices within a webservice hosting platform, the set of webservices created by a set of distinct accounts, and the creation of a webservice comprising:
 receiving a webservice resource definition, 
 processing the webservice resource definition, and 
 instantiating a webservice of the webservice resource definition within the webservice hosting platform; and 
   invoking of a webservice instantiated in the webservice hosting platform for a client device, wherein responsive to an invocation is a process comprising:
 receiving a webservice function call request, 
 executing the webservice function call request on a webservice instance, and 
 responding to the webservice function call request with a result of the webservice. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a set of function call interfaces that comprise at least a command line interface and a library interface; and wherein the webservice function call request is received through at least one of the set of function call interfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a set of function call interfaces that comprises at least a command line interface; and wherein the webservice function call request is received through at least one of the set of function call interfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising providing manual documentation through the command line interface to the set of webservices of the webservice hosting platform. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a query interface to the set of webservices, which comprises generating a set of webserver query results in response to a webservice query. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the webservice function call is made in the form of a webservice query; and further comprising automatically selecting one of the set of webservice query results as the invoked webservice used in executing the function call. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein selecting one of the set of webservice query results selects the invoked webservice at least partially based on webservice popularity ranking. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tracking usage of the webservices. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising proactively scaling webservice instances of at least one webservice in response to usage of the webservice. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising architecting deployment of a set of webservices used in combination in response to tracked usage of the webservices. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the webservice resource definition comprises usage billing configuration; wherein tracking usage of the webservice comprises tracking usage by a second account; and further comprising generating a billing report according to usage of the second account and the usage billing configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising analyzing combined usage of a first webservice and a second webservice; and architecting deployment of the first and second webservices based on the combined usage of the first webservice and the second webservice. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein combined usage is determined by temporal proximity of invocation by an account instance. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein combined usage is determined through detecting usage of at least a second webservice by a first webservice; and wherein architecting deployment can comprise automatically instantiating an instance of the second webservice in coordination with instantiation of an instance of the first webservice. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein instantiating an instance of the second webservice in coordination with instantiation of an instance of the first webservice comprises colocating instances of the first and second webservice. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising caching a response to a function call and returning the cached response to second corresponding function call. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a generic interface to a set of webservices; and when the webservice function call request is to the generic interface, dynamically selecting one of a set of compatible webservices for use in executing the function call. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the webservice resource definition includes a function definition and configuration definition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein configuration definition can include namespace configuration, permissions, usage limits, and documentation. 
     
     
         20 . A system for a function-as-a-service platform comprising:
 a webservice management system configured to:
 receive a webservice resource definition, 
 process the webservice resource definition, and 
 instantiate a webservice of the webservice resource definition within the function-as-a-service platform; 
   a platform interface gateway configured to:
 receive a webservice function call request, 
 execute the webservice function call request on a webservice instance, and 
 respond to the webservice function call request with a result of the webservice; and 
   an infrastructure management system configured to scale webservice instances based in part on usage of webservices through the platform interface gateway.