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  • The service-oriented approach to linking software systems

  • and applications is transforming the way many organizations

  • share data.

  • This approach improves existing methods

  • of data sharing by providing a service layer between systems.

  • Sharing data between applications

  • is a well-established principle that works on a simple level.

  • As systems expand, the solution that

  • connects two software applications

  • will often not work for a third.

  • What began as a workable system then

  • locks valuable data in a silo.

  • Sharing the data is still possible but requires

  • adaptations and tweaks.

  • The process is laborious and time-consuming,

  • leading to bottlenecks and overload.

  • The reality of this world is unnecessary effort expended

  • in duplication of data.

  • By applying a service layer to the applications

  • you wish to connect up, data is offered out

  • in a common format for reuse elsewhere.

  • The service-oriented approach works with existing software

  • systems and does not require you to remove

  • the monolithic application.

  • Placement applications reuse the links already

  • made and can plug into the service layer

  • without affecting other users of data.

  • New applications can be added to grow overall system

  • architectures in the same way.

  • The data in each application is offered up

  • as a service, which any other application can consume.

  • When the service-oriented approach

  • has evolved into a system-wide architecture,

  • it allows connections and service sharing opportunities

  • between organizations nationally and globally.

  • Take monitoring of student progress, for example.

  • Results are locked by a virtual learning environment,

  • but how much of that data is shared with the management

  • system that is tracking progression against funding?

  • If the motivation and commitment of struggling students

  • is not addressed, and they decide to walk away,

  • there is a direct impact on funding.

  • If the data is freed up and shared across a system using

  • a service-oriented approach, it could

  • contribute to retaining student motivation,

  • and thereby maximizing income.

  • And what if across the education community

  • there was one standard and agreed way

  • to describe a course?

  • It would allow course information

  • to be made available as a consumable service

  • both internally and externally.

  • This is the subject of a current project called

  • exchanging course-related information,

  • or XCII, encompassing course marketing, quality assurance,

  • enrollment, and reporting requirements.

  • This service-oriented approach enables

  • aggregated organizations like UCast to gather the standard

  • and agreed descriptions of courses from each provider.

  • Comprehensive details of approved enrollment

  • opportunities are then returned to a prospective student

  • for easy and accurate comparison.

  • Amongst the research community, it is the same principle.

  • Here, the service-oriented approach

  • is enabling researchers to work across institutions

  • in virtual organizations.

  • myGrid is a project that provides a shared tool

  • kit for creating experiments by coordinating the information

  • flow between distributed resources and services.

  • Workflows and query specifications

  • link together remote and local resources

  • using web service protocols.

  • Workflows created by myGrid represent

  • the scientific process of the experiments they enact,

  • making them a rich resource for scientists creating

  • their own new experiments.

  • The service lab to this data enables

  • users to share, reuse, and repurpose experiments

  • within the myGrid community.

  • Many education and research services

  • are already developing a service-oriented approach,

  • taking their lead from the business world

  • and major software developers.

  • It is in this context that the e-Framework,

  • a successful and expanding international initiative,

  • works to make sense of the service-oriented approach

  • for the education and research community.

  • The e-Framework website identifies and describes

  • the service components needed.

  • It provides the blueprints and reference examples

  • for those in the community who want to gain a greater

  • understanding and knowledge of how to implement

  • a service-oriented approach.

  • The e-Framework website is thus becoming a knowledge base

  • that is developing a shared vocabulary

  • and way of thinking for all in education and research.

The service-oriented approach to linking software systems

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