Web services standards in action

1Web Services in Action2Web Services:Questions.What are Web Services?Why should we investigate the use of Web Services?Where can we get more information?How do we get started?3Web Services:Overview User friendly definition of Web Services Examples of the problems Web Services solve BIC Web Service standards Example of the BIC P&A Web Service in action Example of the BIC Order Cancellation Web Service in action Getting started4Web Services:The official definitionAccording to the W3C a Web service is a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network.It has an interface that is described in a machine-processable format such as WSDL.Other systems interact with the Web service in a manner prescribed by its interface using messages,which may be enclosed in a SOAP envelope,or follow a REST approach.These messages are typically conveyed using HTTP,and are normally comprised of XML in conjunction with other Web-related standards.Software applications written in various programming languages and running on various platforms can use web services to exchange data over computer networks like the Internet http:/wikipedia.org/5Web Services:A very simple definition A Web Service is a service such as ISBN P&A enquiry,that is provided over the web as a specially formatted web page,with the intention that the page will be used directly by a software application(such as Bertline,PubEasy etc),in real-time.12345 x9a44Ysj 02 12345 1 20060418 02 XYZ The User View of P&A EnquiryThe Web Service View of P&A Enquiry6Problems solved by Web Services Low barrier to deployment Set-up becomes an administrative task,which can be as simple as giving a new customer access to you web site.Integration can be simpler and costs are lower than using EDI.Out of date information Information is retrieved on demand in real-time Brings information to the user,rather than the user searching Impatience the need for an instant result Firewall issues Interoperability 7BIC Web Service Standardshttp:/www.bic.org.uk8Example:Web Services in Action Price&Availability Bertline 301 Waterstones Intranet System Order Cancellation Bertline 301 Demo Java Desktop application AS/400 ERP Application9Example:P&A Enquiry Purpose Retrieve the Price&Availability of one or a list of ISBNs either directly from a supplier or via a bureau service such as PubEasy.For seamless,real-time integration into an application.Benefit:Real-time accurate data brought directly to users.10Example:P&A Enquiry Bertline 301An example of how easily a web service can be configured.11Example:P&A Enquiry Bertline 30112Example:P&A Enquiry Bertline 30113Example:P&A on Waterstones Intranet14Example:Order Cancellation Web Service Purpose Cancel a backordered line with a supplier Seamless,real-time integration into purchasing application Benefits:No established EDI equivalent in the UK Automates a costly customer service process Reduces the many phone calls,faxes,e-mails and postal requests Keeps the suppliers backorders and customers PO files synchronised.15Example:Order Cancellation Web Service16Example:Order Cancellation Web ServiceThe cancel with supplier option is available if the supplier supports the BIC Order Cancellation Web Service.17Example:Order Cancellation Web ServiceClicking YES will execute the Order Cancellation Web Service against the supplier/bureau service.If successful the line will be cancelled at the supplier and cancelled off the PO file in Bertline.If unsuccessful the user will be told why typically this will be because the item has already been despatched.18Example:Order Cancellation Web ServicePurchase Order details perfectly in sync with the supplier.19Example:Order Cancellation Web Service20Next steps.Talk to your IT/Software providers Do they support the P&A and Order Cancellation standard either directly or via a bureau service such as PubEasy or Nielsen Booknet?Have a look at the Web Services section of the BIC web site.Take new requirements to BIC Join the BIC web services Yahoo group to keep up to date and ask implementation questions.Report new implementations to BIC21More information BIC http:/www.bic.org.uk/Peterbic.org.uk Join the BIC Web Services Group on Yahoo bicwebservices-subscribeyahoogroups.co.uk Sample code http:/ Garrould JohnB