Patent ID: 7853643

Claim:
An apparatus facilitating the virtualization of web services, comprising a Web services network directory storing at least one web service operation identifier corresponding to an operation supported by a web service in association with information allowing for the routing of a request to an end system hosting the web service over a computer network, wherein the web services network directory associates an access control list with at least one web service identifier; a Web services routing node comprising a Web services network module operative to cause the Web services routing node to: receive a request including a web service operation identifier from a client; access the Web services network directory to locate information associated with the web service operation identifier, wherein the information stored in the web services network directory comprises binding information identifying a connection protocol; route the request to the end system hosting the web service using located information stored in the web services network directory by opening a connection, using the connection protocol identified in the binding information, to the end system hosting the web service, and transmitting the request to the end system hosting the web service; and control access to the web service corresponding to the web service identifier by checking the client transmitting the request against the access control list.