A semantic enhanced service exposure model for a converged service environment

Service exposure, as a prerequisite for the reuse of existing services, plays a significant role in next-generation service delivery. However, some issues such as cross-domain interoperability and user-centricity are still unresolved. Therefore, this article proposes a semantic enhanced converged service exposure model that enables services derived from different domains (i.e., telecom/web/device/user) to be integrated into a composite service regardless of their underlying heterogeneities. Meanwhile, the user-centric feature is enhanced by applying the semantic annotation to both the service description and the user request, as well as empowering a user to publish and share his/her created service in a user-friendly way. Moreover, a variety of interfaces, including APIs, widgets, and natural-language-based tools, are provided to satisfy the multilevel user requirements, enabling users to profit from a highly personalized, meaningful communication and interaction experience.