Methods and apparatus for invoking a document style server operation using an operation name in a SOAPAction header

The method as set forth in claim I which includes the steps performed at said client computer prior to transmitting said HTTP message of:

• obtaining service description data describing said specific operation and extracting an operation identification string value from said service description.

Apparatus for invoking the execution of a specified operation on a remotely located server computer from a client computer, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a communications pathway connecting said client computer to said server computer for transmitting HTTP request messages from said client computer to said server computer, a stored program executable on said client computer for transmitting an HTTP request message to said server computer, said HTTP request message including a SOAPAction header which includes the header field designation character string “SOAPAction:” and an appended character string value comprising a first part that indicates that said appended character string value is an operation designation and a second part that identifies said specific operation,
• a transmission interface for transmitting said HTTP request message via said communications pathway to said server computer, and
• a message handling program executable on said server computer for processing said HTTP request message for detecting the presence of a SOAPAction header which includes said first part and, in response to the detection of said first part, invoking the execution of said specific operation designated by said second part.