Transformational conversation definition language

A computer readable medium containing a data structure for defining document transformations in a web service conversation between two or more web services, where the data structure is to be parsed by a conversation controller computer program, said data structure comprising:

• a first section defining document types for a plurality of inbound and outbound documents used in a conversation;
• a second section defining interactions of a conversation;
• a third section defining a flow of a conversation;
• and
• a fourth section identifying document transformations in a conversation, wherein a document transformation is necessary to transform a document used by a first web service into a document used by a second web service.

A memory for storing data for access by at least one conversation controller managing a conversation between web services, comprising:

• a first section stored in memory defining document types for a plurality of inbound and outbound documents in a conversation;
• a second section stored in memory defining interactions of a conversation;
• a third section stored in memory defining a flow of a conversation;
• and
• a fourth section stored in memory identifying document transformations in a conversation, wherein a document transformation is necessary to transform a document used by a first web service into a document used by a second web service.

A method for automatically transforming documents in a conversation between two or more web services, said method comprising steps of:

• retrieving at least one transformational conversation description language (TCDL) description file for use by a conversation controller;
• determining, by the conversation controller, whether a document needed in a transition from a first state in the conversation to a second state in the conversation requires a transformation;
• and
• automatically transforming the document needed in the transition, by the conversation controller, if the retrieved TCDL description file has a transformational element for the needed document transformation.