An approach to designing reusable service frameworks via virtual service machine

Abstract

This paper proposes a new service-computing platform named Virtual Service Machine (VSM). Service computing is a new paradigm for manufacturing IT artifacts, lifting up traditional focus of software development from the level of applications to that of services. Applications are constructed for machines; services are built for people. Applications are targeted to run on a particular platform; services are aimed for serving user's needs. While service computing is getting much more attention than before, its progress is slow and outcomes are not so gratifying. Many service-computing developers are striving to solve the same problems encountered in their counterparts on application development. Middleware is one of many means to address the issue of development barriers for services. However, current forms and functions of middleware software are still impeded by customary mindsets that have been exercised for last couple of decades. We need a new breed of platforms that can further relieve the developers from low-level platform concerns, e.g. hardware, OS, or even middleware itself. VSM is a way towards more effective service- computing development. It provides developers with a reusable service- computing platform to develop their service- based frameworks and applications. This paper proposes an approach of designing reusable service- computing platform via VSM. VSM works by taking incoming service requests and converting them to the executable tasks of the underlying middleware or machine that it is running on. This paper emphasizes on presenting the functionality and major components inside VSM. The comparative study with other service- computing platforms with not be the focus of this paper.