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Subject: RE: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Laskey [mailto:klaskey@mitre.org] 
> Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 5:50 PM
> To: soa-rm@lists.oasis-open.org
> Subject: RE: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"
> 
> As appeared earlier in this thread, there are contexts in 
> which it is not necessary to discriminate between the 
> capability and the service that accesses it, 

Ken, are you equating capability with resource? I recall a reference to
resource that fits the above description, but not one to capability.

Joe

Joseph Chiusano
Booz Allen Hamilton
O: 703-902-6923
C: 202-251-0731
Visit us online@ http://www.boozallen.com
 
> and our 
> discussion of service can make this clear.  However, I think 
> this thread has also shown ample examples of where the 
> service and the capability are clearly separate concepts and 
> where it may be useful to allow that difference to be 
> captured.  For example, it is likely for someone to ask if 
> two services are the same.  While we do not address that 
> particular question, it is far simpler to handle if we know 
> whether the underlying capability is the same than if we 
> obscure that difference at first principles.
> 
> Ken
> 
> At 05:03 PM 8/8/2005, Chiusano Joseph wrote:
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Frank McCabe [mailto:frank.mccabe@us.fujitsu.com]
> > > Sent: Monday, August 08, 2005 12:10 PM
> > > To: Ken Laskey
> > > Cc: soa-rm@lists.oasis-open.org
> > > Subject: Re: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"
> > >
> > > This is going in a weird direction.
> > > I believed that there was significant consensus that the 
> notion of 
> > > service that we are interested in *is* the 
> > > interface/boundary/offering.
> > >
> > > The capability behind the service -- that which makes the service 
> > > possible -- is private and out of bounds. That capability 
> is, by the 
> > > way, best described using agent terminology.
> >
> >Respectful non-concur. IMHO, the service *is* the 
> capability, and the 
> >service *has* an interface through which interaction with that 
> >capability may be possible.
> >
> >Joe
> >
> >Joseph Chiusano
> >Booz Allen Hamilton
> >O: 703-902-6923
> >C: 202-251-0731
> >Visit us online@ http://www.boozallen.com
> >
> > > Frank
> > >
> > > On Aug 8, 2005, at 8:50 AM, Ken Laskey wrote:
> > >
> > > > This is good because it highlights the bits of 
> confusion we have 
> > > > to explain our way around.
> > > >
> > > > The user interface is the facade through which the user
> > > interacts with
> > > > a service (i.e. inputting information/requests, viewing
> > > > results) but there may be delivery capabilities that 
> are invoked 
> > > > through relevant services and the delivery capabilities are the 
> > > > mechanisms through which results are packaged and sent to the 
> > > > requester/consumer.  For example, if I make a request for
> > > an image and
> > > > as part of that request, information about my connectivity is 
> > > > provided, logic (capability) can be executed (possibly
> > > invoked through
> > > > a service) to decide which delivery mechanism is most 
> appropriate 
> > > > (e.g. high res or low res, what kind of compression, ...).
> > > >
> > > > Ken
> > > >
> > > > At 11:18 AM 8/8/2005, Michael Stiefel wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Actually, I think two things are being confused here.
> > > >>
> > > >> There is one service being used by several different
> > > applications.
> > > >> The user interface (i.e. the actually delivery mechanism)
> > > is not part
> > > >> of the service, or strictly speaking part of the SOA.
> > > >>
> > > >> Michael
> > > >>
> > > >> At 10:43 AM 8/8/2005, Ken Laskey wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> I'd have to think about this further but in general I
> > > would say yes.
> > > >>> The underlying capability is making pizza and offering
> > > the product
> > > >>> for sale.  The mechanisms for accessing the capability are in 
> > > >>> person, by phone, online.  Note, the capability existed
> > > before there
> > > >>> was online ordering and this is just another 
> mechanism to access 
> > > >>> a capability that already existed.
> > > >>> Interestingly from an orchestration/choreography sense,
> > > the delivery
> > > >>> of the pizza (in person pickup, delivery service from
> > > pizza place,
> > > >>> third-party delivery (e.g. Takeout Taxi around
> > > >>> here)) constitutes another set of capabilities that can
> > > have service
> > > >>> interfaces and can be combined in response to invoking
> > > the ordering
> > > >>> service.  All of these can be used for delivery of things
> > > other than
> > > >>> pizza (even the pizza place might also deliver sandwiches).
> > > >>>
> > > >>> I think part of the confusion is that a *physical*
> > > delivery service
> > > >>> is a millennia-old, longstanding capability that has
> > > nothing to do
> > > >>> with SOA and is *not* the service in the SOA sense 
> but it uses a 
> > > >>> different aspect of the S word.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Ken
> > > >>>
> > > >>> At 07:11 PM 8/7/2005, joe@pantella.net wrote:
> > > >>>
> > > >>>> Does this imply that if I order a pizza online vs. order a 
> > > >>>> pizza over the phone vs. order a pizza by walking into the 
> > > >>>> store, that these are all separate services?
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> --JJP
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>> From: Ken Laskey [mailto:klaskey@mitre.org]
> > > >>>> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 12:35 PM
> > > >>>> To: soa-rm@lists.oasis-open.org
> > > >>>> Subject: RE: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> This gets back to the previous discussion when we 
> talked about 
> > > >>>> resources, i.e to what extent the service is the 
> mechanism to 
> > > >>>> access (possibly coordinate) capability vs. when is it
> > > considered
> > > >>>> the capability itself.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> I think any consideration of the service as the
> > > capability/resource
> > > >>>> should be very limited.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Ken
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> At 11:07 AM 8/4/2005, Chiusano Joseph wrote:
> > > >>>> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>> > > From: Ken Laskey [mailto:klaskey@mitre.org]
> > > >>>> > > Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 11:04 AM
> > > >>>> > > To: Chiusano Joseph; soa-rm@lists.oasis-open.org
> > > >>>> > > Subject: RE: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > > Somehow saying service *provides* capabilities
> > > misses the SOA
> > > >>>> > > motivation to provide an effective way to bring together 
> > > >>>> > > the
> > > >>>> parts I
> > > >>>> > > need to solve a problem.  Integration is often 
> of disparate
> > > >>>> parts
> > > >>>> > > that exist for their own purposes.  Service can help
> > > >>>> coordinate but
> > > >>>> > > the challenge is to make use of the tools/resources/
> > > >>>> capabilities
> > > >>>> > > that already exist, not to create new stovepipes.
> > > Saying the
> > > >>>> > > service provides all this is a tempting 
> simplification but 
> > > >>>> > > I
> > > >>>> fear it
> > > >>>> > > will trivialize the concepts most in need of 
> clarification.
> > > >>>> >
> > > >>>> >Agree - and I should clarify that I was merely saying that a
> > > >>>> service
> > > >>>> >provides capabilities (in general). Combining a
> > > capability here, a
> > > >>>> >capability there, here a capability, there a capability,
> > > >>>> everywhere a
> > > >>>> >capability (oops sorry - that's the EIEIO song), we
> > > have composite
> > > >>>> >capabilities.
> > > >>>> >
> > > >>>> >Joe
> > > >>>> >
> > > >>>> >Joseph Chiusano
> > > >>>> >Booz Allen Hamilton
> > > >>>> >O: 703-902-6923
> > > >>>> >C: 202-251-0731
> > > >>>> >Visit us online@ http://www.boozallen.com
> > > >>>> >
> > > >>>> > > Ken
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > > At 10:35 AM 8/4/2005, Chiusano Joseph wrote:
> > > >>>> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>> > > > > From: Ken Laskey [mailto:klaskey@mitre.org]
> > > >>>> > > > > Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 10:18 AM
> > > >>>> > > > > To: soa-rm@lists.oasis-open.org
> > > >>>> > > > > Subject: RE: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > I'd still like to emphasize service as the access to 
> > > >>>> > > > > capabilities for which there are extra-service
> > > >>>> motivations for
> > > >>>> > > > > their existence and requirements for use of the
> > > >>>> capabilities
> > > >>>> > > > > that must be
> > > >>>> > > navigated
> > > >>>> > > > > by the service.  Thus,
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > "A service is a mechanism to enable access 
> to a set of
> > > >>>> > > capabilities,
> > > >>>> > > >
> > > >>>> > > >I would say that access control mechanisms enable such
> > > >>>> > > access, and that
> > > >>>> > > >the service *provides* the capabilities. Note: Use of
> > > >>>> > > "access control"
> > > >>>> > > >is too concrete for our RM - I stated it only to 
> > > >>>> > > >illustrate
> > > >>>> > > the point.
> > > >>>> > > >
> > > >>>> > > >Joe
> > > >>>> > > >
> > > >>>> > > >Joseph Chiusano
> > > >>>> > > >Booz Allen Hamilton
> > > >>>> > > >O: 703-902-6923
> > > >>>> > > >C: 202-251-0731
> > > >>>> > > >Visit us online@ http://www.boozallen.com
> > > >>>> > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > where the access is provided using a prescribed
> > > >>>> interface and is
> > > >>>> > > > > exercised consistent with constraints and policies as
> > > >>>> > > specified by
> > > >>>> > > > > the service description."
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > Ken
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > At 11:15 PM 8/3/2005, joe@pantella.net wrote:
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >Just trying to sort through this; some common themes
> > > >>>> > > that seem to
> > > >>>> > > > > >be
> > > >>>> > > > > >acceptable:
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >A service provides capabilities.
> > > >>>> > > > > >A service is accessible. (If this is true, then 
> > > >>>> > > > > >service
> > > >>>> > > cannot be a
> > > >>>> > > > > >verb.) A service has an interface. (If this is true,
> > > >>>> then a
> > > >>>> > > > > service has
> > > >>>> > > > > >a boundary.) A service interface is 
> prescribed. (Then 
> > > >>>> > > > > >a
> > > >>>> > > > > service and its
> > > >>>> > > > > >interface are distinct, and the interface has
> > > >>>> associated rules.
> > > >>>> > > > > >I'm not sure this is true, the interface may
> > > describe the
> > > >>>> > > > > >rules,
> > > >>>> > > > > but Im not
> > > >>>> > > > > >sure it has rules.  In fact, I'm inclined to
> > > suggest that
> > > >>>> > > > > the interface
> > > >>>> > > > > >defines the rules for accessing the service.  Which
> > > >>>> > > would lead me
> > > >>>> > > > > >to suggest that the service interface is more than a
> > > >>>> > > > > specification of the
> > > >>>> > > > > >data model, but also of the policies 
> associated with 
> > > >>>> > > > > >the
> > > >>>> > > service.)
> > > >>>> > > > > >A service is a set of behaviors.  (Not sure I'm on 
> > > >>>> > > > > >board
> > > >>>> > > with this,
> > > >>>> > > > > >something about behaviors doesn't sit well.)
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >Given this, perhaps something like:
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >"A service is a bounded set of capabilities that are
> > > >>>> > > > > accessible through
> > > >>>> > > > > >a prescribed interface."
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >-- JJP
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >P.S. I think this definition might just be
> > > flexible enough
> > > >>>> > > > > to navigate
> > > >>>> > > > > >the service offer/contract discussion also.
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >>>> > > > > >From: Schuldt, Ron L [mailto:ron.l.schuldt@lmco.com]
> > > >>>> > > > > >Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 12:32 PM
> > > >>>> > > > > >To: Frank McCabe; SOA-RM
> > > >>>> > > > > >Subject: RE: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >Frank,
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >While I believe that the previously proposed
> > > definition is
> > > >>>> > > > > sufficient,
> > > >>>> > > > > >I offer the following as a compromise. 
> Hopefully, the
> > > >>>> notion of
> > > >>>> > > > > >"capabilities" addresses your issue of 
> needing to get
> > > >>>> > > things done.
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >"A service is a set of behaviors to provide 
> > > >>>> > > > > >capabilities
> > > >>>> > > > > accessible via
> > > >>>> > > > > >a prescribed interface."
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >Ron
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >>>> > > > > >From: Frank McCabe 
> > > >>>> > > > > >[mailto:frank.mccabe@us.fujitsu.com]
> > > >>>> > > > > >Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2005 10:10 AM
> > > >>>> > > > > >To: SOA-RM
> > > >>>> > > > > >Subject: Re: [soa-rm] Definition(s) of "service"
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >I hesitate to spoil this party ... but I'm 
> going to :)
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >1. There is a distinction between action and result.
> > > >>>> > > (Just ask any
> > > >>>> > > > > >roboticist) Behaviour sounds a child
> > > misbehaving with no
> > > >>>> > > > > >discernible effect. Computer Scientists have a 
> > > >>>> > > > > >tendency
> > > >>>> > > to focus on
> > > >>>> > > > > >the purely technical aspects of their work: bytes
> > > >>>> > > shuffling around
> > > >>>> > > > > >at random within hopefully enormous memories.
> > > >>>> > > > > >2. Also, we have to bear in mind that nobody invests
> > > >>>> > > > > millions of $s (or
> > > >>>> > > > > >even 100's of them) in systems that 
> contemplate their
> > > >>>> navels
> > > >>>> > > > > or have no
> > > >>>> > > > > >business payoff. I think that we have to directly
> > > >>>> address the
> > > >>>> > > > > >reason that services are deployed. 3. One of the
> > > >>>> movitating
> > > >>>> > > > > >best practice aspects of SOAs is
> > > >>>> > > > > that clarity
> > > >>>> > > > > >and 'separation' between the providers of
> > > services and the
> > > >>>> > > > > consumers of
> > > >>>> > > > > >services leads to more scalable and robust
> > > architectures.
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >All of the above is fuzzy language; but, at the
> > > same time,
> > > >>>> > > > > "A service
> > > >>>> > > > > >is a set of behaviors accessible via a prescribed
> > > >>>> interface."
> > > >>>> > > > > >sounds a lot like bureauspeak.
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >I believe that there is strong consensus on the
> > > following
> > > >>>> > > > > >characteristics:
> > > >>>> > > > > >a. The concept of service is 'at the 
> boundary' between
> > > >>>> service
> > > >>>> > > > > >providers and consumers. b. The service is
> > > 'there' to get
> > > >>>> > > > > >things done; but doesn't
> > > >>>> > > > > itself denote
> > > >>>> > > > > >the engine that performs the tasks.
> > > >>>> > > > > >c. There is a reason for using a service.
> > > >>>> > > > > >d. There is a lot of extra metalogical information 
> > > >>>> > > > > >about
> > > >>>> > > > > services that
> > > >>>> > > > > >make it possible for third parties to 
> develop partners
> > > >>>> > > for services.
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >I, for one, would prefer a strongly anglo-saxon
> > > >>>> phrasing of the
> > > >>>> > > > > >definition of service that speaks to these points.
> > > >>>> > > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > >Frank
> > > >>>> > > > > >ti
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > > --
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>>> > > > > -------------------
> > > >>>> > > > >    /   Ken
> > > >>>> > > > > Laskey
> > > >>>> > > > >         \
> > > >>>> > > > >   |    MITRE Corporation, M/S H305    phone:
> > > >>>> 703-983-7934   |
> > > >>>> > > > >   |    7515 Colshire Drive                    fax:
> > > >>>> > > > > 703-983-1379   |
> > > >>>> > > > >    \   McLean VA 22102-7508
> > > >>>> > > > >            /
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>>> > > > > --------------------
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > > > >
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > > --
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > >
> > > --------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>>> > > -------------------
> > > >>>> > >    /   Ken
> > > >>>> > > Laskey
> > > >>>> > >         \
> > > >>>> > >   |    MITRE Corporation, M/S H305    phone:
> > > 703-983-7934   |
> > > >>>> > >   |    7515 Colshire Drive                    fax:
> > > >>>> > > 703-983-1379   |
> > > >>>> > >    \   McLean VA 22102-7508
> > > >>>> > >            /
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > >
> > > --------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>>> > > --------------------
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>> > >
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> --
> > > >>>>
> > > 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>>> --------------
> > > >>>>    /   Ken
> > > >>>> Laskey
> > >
> > > >>>>    \
> > > >>>>   |    MITRE Corporation, M/S H305    phone:  
> 703-983-7934   |
> > > >>>>   |    7515 Colshire Drive                    fax:
> > > >>>> 703-983-1379   |
> > > >>>>    \   McLean VA
> > > >>>> 22102-7508                                              /
> > > >>>>
> > > 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>>> ---------------
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> -
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>> --
> > > >>>
> > > 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>> -------------
> > > >>>   /   Ken
> > > >>> Laskey
> > >
> > > >>>   \
> > > >>>  |    MITRE Corporation, M/S H305    phone:  703-983-7934   |
> > > >>>  |    7515 Colshire Drive                    fax:
> > > >>> 703-983-1379   |
> > > >>>   \   McLean VA
> > > >>> 22102-7508                                              /
> > > >>>
> > > 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >>> --------------
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > >
> > > >
> > > 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > --
> > > > -----------
> > > >   /   Ken
> > > > Laskey
> > >
> > > > \
> > > >  |    MITRE Corporation, M/S H305    phone:  703-983-7934   |
> > > >  |    7515 Colshire Drive                    fax:
> > > > 703-983-1379   |
> > > >   \   McLean VA
> > > > 22102-7508                                              /
> > > >
> > > >
> > > 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > --
> > > > ------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> 
> --
>       
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------
>    /   Ken 
> Laskey                                                        
>         \
>   |    MITRE Corporation, M/S H305    phone:  703-983-7934   |
>   |    7515 Colshire Drive                    fax:      
> 703-983-1379   |
>    \   McLean VA 22102-7508                                   
>            /
>      
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------- 
> 
> 
> 
> 


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