An Agent-Based Web Service Workflow Model

To improve the efficiency of Web service integration, an agent-based Web service workflow (ABWSWF) model is proposed. ABWSWF model contains three layers. The top is the user layer which represents the service requirements as goals, the bottom service layer denotes the distributed Web services, and the middle is the agent layer. Each service agent in the agent layer abstracts the features of a group of actual operations with similar functions as operation templates and models the process of using the operation templates to achieve a certain goal as plan. The application of the agent layer shields the heterogeneity of underling distributed Web services with similar functions. Therefore, the common users only need to focus on what they want to achieve rather than how to achieve. ABWSWF model has great flexibility and extensibility and offers guidance for developing efficient tools for Web service integration.