Patent ID: 8244872

Claim:
A computer-implemented process that allows for the use of disparate software services provided in different formats, comprising: receiving a service request for computer services from a requester; determining a type of the service request; based on the type of the determined service request, routing the service request to one of a set of internal service providers; accessing, by the internal service provider, a list of external pluggable service providers and pluggable external components available for each type of service request and selecting an external pluggable service provider or a pluggable external component from the list; determining if the selected external service provider or the selected pluggable external component is available to render services for the type of service requested, upon determining that the selected external service provider or the selected pluggable external component is available to render services, obtaining a format of the service request as required by the selected pluggable external service provider or the selected pluggable external component by accessing a configuration file that provides the configurations of the types of external pluggable service providers and pluggable external components available for each type of service request; formatting the service request to be compatible with the selected pluggable external service provider or the selected pluggable external component based on the obtained format; sending the formatted service request to the selected pluggable external service provider or the selected pluggable external component for servicing; and providing the requested service for computer services from the selected pluggable external service provider or the selected pluggable external component to the requester; otherwise, suspending the rendering of services for the type of service requested until the selected external service provider or the selected pluggable external component becomes available.