Managing network-accessible resources

Abstract

The systems, methods, means, and computer program products disclosed herein provide a framework and tools for creating composite services from the array of services available as distributed, loosely structured, ad hoc, remote programming interfaces on the Internet. The framework includes metaservices for coordinating the execution of multiple services in a composite service, and also provides core services such as database management, security, financial transactions, media conversion, and so forth, to provide greater design latitude in the creation of new composite services from existing Internet content and services. The framework may be deployed to create new services and programming interfaces, or to deploy independent web applications constructed from available services.

1 . A server for network computing comprising an HTTP get/post programming interface for accessing a plurality of core services and at least one metaservice, the plurality of core services including one or more of a syndication function, a search function, a conditional access function, an authentication function, a security function, and a database management function, and the at least one metaservice including at least one service for creating a composite service from a plurality of other services, the plurality of other services including at least one remote service with a network-accessible programming interface.  
   
   
       2 . The server of  claim 1  wherein the syndication function includes one or more of publish, subscribe, and read.  
   
   
       3 . The server of  claim 1  wherein the search function includes one or more of a keyword search, a time-based search, an author search, and a metadata search.  
   
   
       4 . The server of  claim 1  wherein the database management function includes one or more of a read, a write, a delete, a replace, and a query.  
   
   
       5 . The server of  claim 1  wherein the metaservice includes at least one service for validating the composite service.  
   
   
       6 . The server of  claim 1  wherein the metaservice includes at least one service for validating the at least one remote service.  
   
   
       7 . The server of  claim 1  wherein the metaservice includes at least one service for discovering available remote programming interfaces.  
   
   
       8 . The server of  claim 1  wherein the metaservice provides a searchable database of available remote programming interfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The server of  claim 1  further comprising a web server providing a graphical user interface for creating the composite service.  
   
   
       10 . The server of  claim 9  wherein the graphical user interface employs a spreadsheet paradigm.  
   
   
       11 . The server of  claim 9  wherein the graphical user interface includes a drag-and-drop tool for manipulating services and data sources within the composite service.  
   
   
       12 . A method of semantic computing comprising: 
 providing an HTTP get/post programming interface to a network-accessible server, the interface including at least one syndication function, at least one search function, and at least one processing function;    associating a first URL with an input to the interface;    associating a second URL with an output from the interface; and    providing an interface description at a third URL, the interface description including a description of the HTTP get/post programming interface and an identification of the first URL and the second URL.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising publishing an RSS feed to the input.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising publishing an RSS feed to the output.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising associating a third URL with an Application Interaction Interface for the programming interface.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the Application Interaction Interface employs HTML.  
   
   
       17 - 94 . (canceled)  
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the Application Interaction Interface supports web browser access to one or more functions of the HTTP get/post programming interface by a human user.  
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the syndication function includes one or more of publishing and subscribing.  
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the at least one search function employs a local database of searchable content.  
   
   
       98 . A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium that, when executing on one or more computers performs the steps of: 
 providing an HTTP get/post programming interface to a network-accessible server, the interface including at least one syndication function, at least one search function, and at least one processing function;    associating a first URL with an input to the interface;    associating a second URL with an output from the interface; and    providing an interface description at a third URL, the interface description including a description of the HTTP get/post programming interface and an identification of the first URL and the second URL.