Interoperable Systems and Methods for Peer-To-Peer Service Orchestration

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for performing policy-managed, peer-to-peer service orchestration in a manner that supports the formation of self-organizing service networks that enable rich media experiences. In one embodiment, services are distributed across peer-to-peer communicating nodes, and each node provides message routing and orchestration using a message pump and workflow collator. Distributed policy management of service interfaces helps to provide trust and security, supporting commercial exchange of value. Peer-to-peer messaging and workflow collation allow services to be dynamically created from a heterogeneous set of primitive services. The shared resources are services of many different types, using different service interface bindings beyond those typically supported in a web service deployments built on UDDI, SOAP, and WSDL. In a preferred embodiment, a media services framework is provided that enables nodes to find one another, interact, exchange value, and cooperate across tiers of networks from WANs to PANs.

1 . A system for orchestrating services provided by network peers with sufficient interoperability to enable the exchange of value through participation in distributed applications, the system comprising:
 a. a first service provider having a first service adaptation layer that exposes a first service interface which enables network peers to access, via a first discoverable binding, a first service offered by the first service provider;   b. a first service consumer having a first service access point that accesses the first service interface exposed by the first service provider, discovers the first binding and invokes the first service by using that binding; and   c. a first workflow collator that orchestrates the steps necessary to enable the first service provider to perform the first service for the first service consumer.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first service provides limited access to encrypted media content located on a remote Internet-based server, and the first workflow collator includes a first control program that verifies whether the first service consumer is authorized to access the content and, if so, locates the content and provides it to the first service consumer via the first service adaptation layer. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first service interface is specified in WSDL. 
   
   
       4 . A system for orchestrating services provided by network peers, the system—comprising:
 a. a first service provider having a first service adaptation layer that exposes a first service interface which enables network peers to access, via a first discoverable binding, a first service offered by the first service provider;   b. a first service consumer having a first service access point that accesses the first service interface exposed by the first service provider, discovers the first binding and invokes the first service by using that binding;   c. a first workflow collator that orchestrates the steps necessary to enable the first service provider to perform the first service for the first service consumer; and   d. a second service provider having a second service adaptation layer that exposes a second service interface which enables network peers to access, via a second discoverable binding, a second service offered by the second service provider, the second service providing access to a service registry having a directory entry with information for locating and accessing the first service,   wherein the first service access point accesses the directory entry and uses the information to locate and invoke the first service.   
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the service registry is a UDDI registry. 
   
   
       6 . A system comprising:
 a. a first service provider having a first service adaptation layer that exposes a first service interface which enables network peers to access, via a first discoverable binding, a first service offered by the first service provider;   b. a first service consumer having a first service access point that accesses the first service interface exposed by the first service provider, discovers the first binding and invokes the first service by using that binding;   c. a first workflow collator that orchestrates the steps necessary to enable the first service provider to perform the first service for the first service consumer,   d. a trust management certificate for certifying the first service for access only by authorized service consumers; and   e. a control program for providing limited access to the first service using the trust management certificate,   wherein the first access point uses the trust management certificate to validate the first service consumer for authorized access to the first service.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the trust management certificate is an X.509 certificate. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the trust management certificate is an SSL certificate. 
   
   
       9 . A method for orchestrating services provided by network peers with sufficient interoperability to enable the exchange of value through participation in distributed applications, the method comprising:
 a. exposing, from a first service adaptation layer of a first service provider, a first service interface which enables network peers to access; via a first discoverable binding, a first service offered by the first service provider;   b. accessing, from a first service access point of a service consumer, the first service interface exposed by the first service provider, discovering the first binding and invoking the first service by using that binding; and   c. orchestrating, using a first workflow collator, the steps necessary to enable the first service provider to perform the first service for the first service consumer.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first service provides limited access to encrypted media content located on a remote Internet-based server, and the first workflow collator includes a first control program that verifies whether the first service consumer is authorized to access the content and, if so, locates the content and provides it to the first service consumer via the first service adaptation layer. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first service interface is specified in WSDL. 
   
   
       12 . A method for orchestrating services, the method comprising:
 a. exposing, from a first service adaptation layer of a first service provider, a first service interface which enables network peers to access, via a first discoverable binding, a first service offered, by the first service provider;   b. accessing, from a first service access point of a service consumer, the first service interface exposed by the first service provider, discovering the first binding and invoking the first service by using that binding;   c. orchestrating, using a first workflow collator, the steps necessary to enable the first service provider to perform the first service for the first service consumer; and   d. exposing, from a second adaptation layer of a second service provider, a second service interface which enables network peers to access, via a second discoverable binding, a second service offered by the second service provider, the second service providing access to a service registry having a directory entry with information for locating and accessing the first service,   wherein the first service access point accesses directory entry and uses the information to locate and invoke the first service.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the service registry is a UDDI registry. 
   
   
       14 . A method comprising:
 a. exposing, from a first service adaptation layer of a first service provider, a first service interface which enables network peers to access, via a first discoverable binding, a first service offered by the first service provider;   b. accessing, from a first service access point of a service consumer, the first service interface exposed by the first service provider, discovering the first binding and invoking the first service by using that binding;   c. orchestrating, using a first workflow collator, the steps necessary to enable the first service provider to perform the first service for the first service consumer;   d. certifying the first service, using a trust management certificate, for access only by authorized service consumers; and   e. executing a control program to provide limited access to the first service using the trust management certificate,   wherein the first access point uses the trust management certificate to validate the first service consumer for authorized access to the first service.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the trust management certificate is an X.509 certificate. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the trust management certificate is an SSL certificate. 
   
   
       17 .- 20 . (canceled)