Web Services Stack Dynamic Protocol Switching

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Web services protocols, particularly those using XML, face performance issues due to bandwidth and processing inefficiencies, leading to increased latency and reduced throughput, especially in wireless networks and mobile devices with limited resources.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a binary encoding protocol, such as WS-Fast, which uses ASN.1 and maps XML Schema to ASN.1 for efficient binary message transmission, allowing dynamic and transparent switching between markup language and binary encoding protocols within a Web services stack, thereby minimizing developer impact and enhancing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If XML-based markup language protocols are used for Web services communication, then interoperability and self-describing capabilities are improved, but message size and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinteroperabilityVSAvoidmessage size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic protocol selection mechanism that allows the Web services stack to switch between XML-based markup language protocols and binary encoding protocols based on runtime conditions. This enables the system to adapt to different network environments and performance requirements while maintaining interoperability capabilities when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the encoding parameter of message transmission by introducing binary encoding protocols as an alternative to XML-based text encoding. This parameter change reduces message size and processing overhead while maintaining the ability to use XML protocols when interoperability is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If XML-based markup language protocols are used for Web services communication, then self-describing capabilities are improved, but processing time and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-describing capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic protocol selection mechanism that allows the Web services stack to switch between XML-based markup language protocols and binary encoding protocols based on runtime conditions. This enables the system to adapt to different network environments and performance requirements while maintaining interoperability capabilities when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the encoding parameter of message transmission by introducing binary encoding protocols as an alternative to XML-based text encoding. This parameter change reduces message size and processing overhead while maintaining the ability to use XML protocols when interoperability is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If data compression algorithms are applied to reduce message size, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but CPU intensity and roundtrip latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage sizeVSAvoidCPU intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies binary encoding protocols that pre-structure data in an efficient format before transmission, eliminating the need for runtime compression and decompression operations. This preliminary encoding approach reduces CPU intensity during communication while maintaining small message sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7647415B1Dynamic web services stack

Publication Date: 2010.01.12 ORACLE AMERICAN INC

AI summary

System and method for providing a binary encoding protocol as an alternative to markup language protocols for Web services. Embodiments may provide a Web services stack with a single API that supports a binary encoding protocol in addition to a markup language protocol. Embodiments may dynamically and transparently switch between the markup language protocol and the binary encoding protocol, for example for communications between servers and clients in a Web services network environment. An exemplary markup language is XML. An exemplary binary encoding protocol that may be used is WS-Fast, which may use Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) and a mapping from XML Schema to ASN.1 for on-the-wire binary messages. Some embodiments may be implemented as a Java Web services stack that implements WS-Fast as an alternative to XML, while still supporting XML and providing one API to both protocols.