Dynamic Web Service Discovery via Semantic Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UDDI-based service discovery mechanisms face limitations in precision and recall due to keyword-based searches and lack of semantic description, making it difficult to dynamically discover and invoke Web services without prior knowledge of their technical fingerprint.
Innovation Solution
A method that continuously searches a multi-level distributed UDDI registry chain using a rules engine for real-time discovery and invocation, employing semantic matching based on OWL ontologies, stochastic processes, and XML canonicalization to identify and prioritize services that meet consumer profile criteria, allowing dynamic invocation without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If keyword-based searches are used in UDDI registry, then the search function is simple to implement, but the precision and recall of service discovery are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the consumer and the UDDI registry. This intermediary continuously monitors service registries, performs semantic matching using OWL ontologies, and pre-processes service descriptions to enable accurate dynamic discovery without requiring complex search operations from the consumer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously parsing and indexing service registry content in advance. The intermediary proactively monitors for service availability and pre-computes semantic matches, so when a consumer needs a service, the results are already prepared and ready for immediate invocation.
2Ease of operation
If UDDI registry is used for service discovery, then syntactic interoperability is guaranteed through XML, but semantic description of content is not enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple layers of description: the original XML syntactic description from UDDI/WSDL is combined with additional semantic layer using OWL ontologies. This composite approach preserves the syntactic interoperability of XML while adding semantic meaning through ontology-based conceptual frameworks that capture contextual interpretations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension to service description by introducing semantic ontologies on top of the existing XML structure. This dimensional extension allows the system to interpret and reason about service meanings beyond what raw XML syntax provides, enabling semantic search and matching capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If service consumers search for Web services manually, then they can review service interfaces in detail, but the process is time-consuming and requires advance knowledge of technical fingerprints
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by having the intermediary automatically perform service discovery, monitoring, and matching operations. The consumer simply specifies their needs in terms of service functionality rather than technical details, and the system autonomously handles the complex tasks of parsing registries, semantic matching, and service invocation without requiring manual intervention or advance technical knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual search process with automated computational processes. Instead of consumers manually parsing XML descriptions and comparing technical fingerprints, the system uses automated semantic matching algorithms based on OWL ontologies to instantly identify and invoke appropriate services.
4Productivity
If continuous searching of service registries is performed, then real-time service discovery is enabled, but the load on registry nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs partial searching by focusing only on the necessary semantic attributes and key service characteristics rather than parsing every detail of every service description. This selective monitoring approach enables real-time discovery while minimizing the computational load on registry nodes by only processing information relevant to current service needs.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method is provided to dynamically search for available Web services by persistently searching a distributed multi-level UDDI registry chain, interrogating their published technical specifications and enabling the consumer to find, bind, and invoke the desired Web service in real-time and without intervention by the consumer. The search criteria includes identifying candidate published services that fall within an acceptable margin of error based on information previously published within a consumer service profile. The measure of conformance between the registry semantic map and consumer service profile is parameterized and chosen by the consumer in advance. The service profile includes an XML schema which exposes consumer profile metadata and corresponding information sets used by a rules engine for pattern matching purposes.