Patent ID: 8234387
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A system for orchestrating services provided between network peers with sufficient interoperability to enable the exchange of value through participation in distributed applications, the system comprising: a first service provider, of a plurality of service providers comprising a hardware processor, the first service provider being a first network peer of the network peers, having a first service adaptation layer that exposes a first service interface which enables network peers to access, via a first discoverable binding, a first service offered by the first service provider, the first service provider including a first workflow collator; a service consumer, the service consumer being a second network peer of the network peers, having a service access point that accesses the first service interface exposed by the first service provider, discovers the first binding and invokes the first service by using that binding, the service consumer including a gateway that enables network peers to access the first service; and a second service provider, of the plurality of service providers, the second service provider being a third network peer of the network peers, having a second service adaptation layer that exposes a second service interface which enables network peers to access, via a second discoverable binding, a second service offered by the second service provider, the second service providing access to a service registry having a directory entry with information for locating and accessing the first service, the second service provider including a second workflow collator that orchestrates the steps necessary for the service consumer to invoke the second service from the second service provider and that manages messages relating to the invocation of the second service by the service consumer according to rules set by the second service provider; wherein the first workflow collator orchestrates steps necessary for the service consumer to invoke, through a common interface at the first workflow collator, the first service from the first service provider, manages messages related to the invocation of the first service by the service consumer according to rules set by the first service provider, and obtains authorization to invoke the first service, wherein the service access point accesses the directory entry and uses the information to locate and invoke the first service, and wherein the first service provides limited access to encrypted media content located on a remote Internet-based server, and the first workflow collator includes a first control program that verifies whether the service consumer is authorized to access the content using a hierarchical graphical representation of a relationship between the service consumer and the plurality of service providers, such that the service consumer is authorized to access the content when a path exists between the service consumer and the first service provider and, if so, locates the content and provides it to the service consumer via the first service adaptation layer.