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Context-based matching for Web service composition

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Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel matching framework for Web service composition. The framework combines the concepts of Web service, context, and ontology. We adopt a broad definition of context for Web services, encompassing all information needed for enabling interactions between clients and providers. Context-based matching for Web services requires dealing with three major research thrusts: context categorization, modeling, and matching. We first propose an ontology-based categorization of contextual information in Web service environments. We then define a two-level mechanism for modeling Web service contexts. In the first level, service providers create context specifications using category-specific Web service languages and standards. In the second level, context specifications are enveloped by policies (called context policies) using WS-Policy standard. Finally, we present a peer-to-peer architecture for matching context policies. The architecture relies on a context matching engine, context policy assistants, and context community services. Community services implement rule-based techniques for comparing context policies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Michigan, Dearborn, USA

    Brahim Medjahed

  2. Institute of Information Sciences and Technology, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

    Yacine Atif

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  1. Brahim Medjahed
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  2. Yacine Atif
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Correspondence to Brahim Medjahed.

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Recommended by: Zakaria Maamar

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Medjahed, B., Atif, Y. Context-based matching for Web service composition. Distrib Parallel Databases 21, 5–37 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10619-006-7003-7

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