Policy Constraint Matching for Web Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional web services architectures lack a standard method for describing individual requirements and offerings, preventing automated matching of policy constraints between web service components, and existing semantic web languages do not support arithmetic comparison operators or separate policy constraint definitions.
Innovation Solution
A method for specifying policy constraints that allows for the automated processing of collections of requirements and offerings, using a policy-processing engine to find intersections and handle semantic hierarchies, preferences, and domain-specific schemas without requiring domain-specific knowledge, enabling interoperability between web services components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional web services architectures are used, then web services can communicate using standard protocols, but automated matching of policy constraints between web service components is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming policy constraints into a standardized mathematical format with specific parameters (vocabulary items, operators, values). This allows automated processing through parameter-based comparison and intersection operations, resolving the contradiction between automation and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary policy constraint language that mediates between diverse web service components and the automated matching process. This intermediary layer provides a common framework for expressing and comparing policy constraints, enabling automation without increasing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If semantic web languages are used, then web services can express requirements and offerings, but arithmetic comparison operators and separate policy constraint definitions are not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the policy constraint expression into distinct components: vocabulary items, operators, and values. This segmentation allows for flexible combination of elements while maintaining a relatively simple syntax, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal policy constraint language that can express multiple types of constraints (arithmetic comparisons, logical conditions, preferences) using a unified syntax. This multi-functional approach enables diverse policy expressions without requiring separate language constructs, reducing overall complexity.
3Productivity
If automated policy processing is implemented, then consumer requirements can be matched with provider offerings, but domain-specific knowledge is required for processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary policy constraint language that acts as a domain-independent mediator between diverse web service components and the automated matching process. This intermediary layer translates domain-specific requirements into a standardized format that can be processed automatically without requiring domain-specific knowledge in the processing logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates abstract copies of policy constraints in a standardized format that preserve the essential matching logic while removing domain-specific details. These copied representations can be processed automatically, and the matching results can be translated back to domain-specific contexts, improving productivity without increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Web services interface policy constraints may be specified in a policy constraints language and policy processing, such as generating an intersection policy of two policies may be automated by a policy-processing engine. A policy constraint may be a specification of a value, range of values, or set of values that a particular requirement or offering is allowed to have. Hierarchies of requirements and/or offerings may also be expressed and matched such that a more specific case of a requirement or offering may be matched against a more general case of the same requirement or offering. Also, preferences among vocabulary items, vocabulary item values, policy constraints, and other elements of a policy may be specified and automatically determined by a policy-processing engine. Automated matching of consumer requirements against provider offerings may allow a policy-processing engine to process policies with specifications of requirements or offerings from any domain-specific schema.