Business ApplicationAlex Scott, Matt Dunbar, Casey McLaughlin, Sara YoderBA471 – Final PaperWeb ServicesThere is a world within our world that has been thriving for over a decade now, it is the web-based world. This world is virtual and exists only through machines and their programs. There is a valuable technology that is incorporated into this realm that many people are not aware of, they are web services. These web services in general are basically a mechanism for software applications to interact with other types of software applications, usually on two different computers. This concept has been around since the Internet was invented. However, the web services we use now were formed from the development and evolution of their components. Since they are based on XML, they weren’t widely used until the World Wide Web Consortium adopted XML in 1996. Sincethen, their use has skyrocketed and become a major part of how we do business today.ComponentsBefore we go into the details of how web services work, it would be wise to talk about the components of web services. The components of web services consist of four protocols: XML, UDDI, WSDL and SOAP. These are what allow software applications to interact with other software applications. The first protocol is XML (Extensible Markup Language). Its primary purpose is to facilitate the sharing of data across different systems, particularly systems connected via the Internet. Mark-up language combines text and extra information about the text. The most common mark-up language is HTML.The second protocol is UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration).It is an XML-based registry for businesses worldwide to list themselves on the Internet. This registry enables businesses to publish service listings and discover each other. It also allows them to define how their services or software applications interact over the Internet. It is really just like the Yellow Pages in a phone book.The third protocol is WSDL (Web Services Description Language), which is usually pronounced wiz-dell. WSDL is an XML-based service description on how to communicate using the web service. It is often used with SOAP and an XML schema to provide web services over the Internet.The fourth and final protocol is SOAP. SOAP is a protocol for exchanging XML-based messages over a computer network, normally using HTTP. SOAP is the foundationlayer of a web services stack. A Brief Explanation of How Web Services WorkHere is a hypothetical situation to help you visualize how all the aforementioned components come together to create Web Services (WS). Keep in mind that this process happens in fractions of seconds and is revolutionizing the way that companies are doing business on a global scale. Imagine a situation where you are a buyer for a lumber company, and you need to find a lumber supplier that can provide you with 100 sheets of rough-cut plywood. Use these explanations in conjunction with the accompanying diagram.Step 1: You as the buyer would first use your WS to contact the UDDI to find lumber suppliers that have the rough-cut plywood that you’re looking for. Essentially your WS isasking, “Where can I get it?”Your WS refers to the UDDI to find the suppliers that have registered their metadata with the UDDI. As mentioned earlier, UDDI is sort of like the “Yellow Pages” that companies with WS register with. The UDDI then responds to your WS with the WS of the supplier. At this point the job of the UDDI is done and your WS is now communicating with the WS of the suppliers.Step 2: Now that you have located the WS of the suppliers, your WS needs to know how to communicate with it. So your WS contacts the suppliers’ WS inquiring, “How do I ask you if you have what I need?” The suppliers’ WS then responds with the Web Services Descriptive Language (WSDL) that your WS requires in order to continue the interaction.Think of this WSDL as a type of form. Similar to when you visit our lovely DMV you arerequired to use the proper form to process your transaction…this WSDL functions as the form.Step 3: Now that your WS has the WSDL, it is all set to ask if the suppliers’ WS if it has the goods that you are looking for. Step 4: The WS of the suppliers responds with an XML message that answers the question. The XML is packaged in what is called a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), which is packaged within HTTP. All of this information is sorted out by your WS through a process called “parsing” when it receives the response. Parsing is really just your WS pulling apart this response message and extracting the XML that answers your question.Step 5: You now have all the information that is required order to make a purchase decision. Up to this point, all of this process has been automated. But here at Step 5, some human interaction may be needed. You as the buyer will be given the names of thecompanies supplying the lumber you need and it will be up to you to decide from whom you wish to buy.Business ApplicationThese web services are big news to the world of business. Companies can now obtain the wealth of information that is available to all people at amazing speeds and verylow costs. There has been a new trend of business organizations and models emerging because of this technology, open innovation. Businesses no longer need to vertically integrate themselves for protection or to ensure that they obtain market value. Web services have helped open up business models in six key functions, which will be explained. Value proposition is the first of the six business model functions. The value proposition pertains to what the product offering will be and in what form the product will be used. But how do customers find out about the new products and their value propositions? People are now turning to the Internet to educate themselves of new products. Businesses know of this and are using web services to bring forth their new products and their value propositions by using the UDDI. Web service technologies enable people to supply and look up practically any information known to man. It is the Webster's dictionary of products and their offerings.Market segment is the next in line in terms of the six functions. This is the group of customers or market segments to whom the proposition will be focused. Businesses can now find more ways to target their desired market segment with web services. If youare selling hunting
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