Web Services - Peer to Peer Data Processing

Interim definition (7/3/2002) of a Web service (no consensus on it) which will be reworked in light of the requirements:

A Web service is a software application or component identified by a URI, whose interfaces and binding are capable of being described by standard XML vocabularies and that supports direct interactions with other software applications or components through the exchange of information that is expressed in terms of an XML Infoset via Internet-based protocols.

SOAP is a general method for transmitting XML over networks.
The header contains authentication, control, logging, payment details etc...
The body contains application data.
The data can be transmitted over HTTP, SMTP, used for RPC ...
Here is an example of the address list

WSDL describes the interfaces to web services

Status:

• SOAP Documents produced:
  • XML Protocol Requirements (19 March 2001 WD)
  • XML Protocol Abstract Model (9 July 2001 WD)
  • XML Protocol Usage Scenarios (17 December 2001 WD)
  • SOAP Version 1.2:
    • Part 0: Primer (17 December 2001 WD)
    • Part 1: Messaging Framework (17 December 2001 WD): envelope, processing model, binding framework
    • Part 2: Adjuncts (17 December 2001 WD): RPC convention, SOAP encoding, HTTP binding
  • Test collection (editors' copy)
• Expected to publish Last Call Working Drafts around the end of the month.
• Recommendation expected during summer 2002.
• Rechartering: binary attachments, ...

• Editors' copy of Web Service Use Cases Scenarios
• Editors' copy of Web Service Description Requirements