research

Service-Oriented Computing

In the economic theory, a service is an immaterial economic good that is provided by a legal entity (referred to as the provider) to satisfy the needs of another entity (referred to as the client). The client focuses on the use of the capabilities provided by the service. The provider focuses on the resources and operational knowledge that substantiate such capabilities.

Service-oriented computing can be defined as the conceptual and technology framework for the electronic creation and provision of services. Beyond electronic data exchange, service-oriented computing targets the basic infrastructure of clients and providers. Services become the unit of modularisation for business capabilities. A uniform service model applies to different types of service. Apart from the logic of specific business rules, there should be no obstacles to the immediate incorporation of an external capability into the business processes of a company. Fundamental aspect of service-oriented computing is the capability to compose services into new services.

Service Composition

Service composition is about the creation and provision of complex value-added services. Related research revolves around methods, concepts, models and technology that enable the actors of electronic service markets to apply service composition in their different roles.

Creation and provision of complex services comprise of composition, aggregation, and coordination of partial services and providers. Appropriate answers are needed for all three issues. The main problem is to find a well defined environment that allows creating compositions. A first aspect of that problem is the question, how suitable service offers can be aggregated in the context of specific composition processes. Another important aspect is to find coordination concepts that enable the control of partial providers during complex service transactions.

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