Web dispatch service

A method for accessing an application owner, the method comprising:

• sending a service command from a requestor to a dispatch server;
• processing the service command on the dispatch server;
• translating the service command on the dispatch server into an application request to the application owner, wherein the translation is at least partially based on a service definition stored on the dispatch server;
• and
• processing the application request.

A method for accessing a complex web link, the method comprising:

• sending a service request from an end-user to a dispatch server;
• translating the service request into a complex application command, wherein the translating is at least partially based on a service definition stored on the dispatch server;
• redirecting the complex application command from the dispatch server to the end-user;
• sending the complex application command from the end-user to a service provider;
• and
• sending an application response from the service provider to the end-user.

A system comprising:

• a dispatch server comprising:
• a data store;
• and
• a processor programmed to translate a service request into an application command, wherein the translation is at least partially based on a service definition stored in the data store;
• and
• a service user operatively coupled to the dispatch server, wherein the service user sends the service request to the dispatch server, and wherein the dispatch server translates the service request and sends the application command to the service user.

A system comprising:

• a dispatcher comprising:
• a data store;
• and
• a processor programmed to translate a service request into an application request and manage a user interface, wherein the translation is at least partially based on a service definition stored in the data store, and wherein the user interface includes a service registration;
• and
• a service provider operatively coupled to the dispatcher, wherein the service provider registers its services with the dispatcher through the user interface.

A method for centralized management of complex web links on a web dispatch provider, the method comprising:

• storing an application service definition in a centralized database of the web dispatch provider, wherein the application service definition includes a service name and one or more service data entries;
• receiving a first service request from an end-user;
• translating the first service request into a first application request, wherein the translating is at least partially based on the application service definition;
• redirecting the first application request back to the end-user;
• changing at least one of the service data entries in the application service definition without changing the service name;
• receiving a second service request from the end-user, wherein the second service request is substantially equal to the first service request;
• translating the second service request into a second application request, wherein the second application request is substantially different from the first application request, and wherein the translating is at least partially based on the changed application service definition;
• and
• redirecting the second application request back to the end-user.

A method for registering services on a web dispatch server, the method comprising:

• sending a registration request from a host to the web dispatch server, the registration request having a first service name;
• processing the registration request on the web dispatch server;
• registering a new service for the registration request on the web dispatch server, the new service having a second service name;
• and
• storing the new service in a web dispatch database,
• such that a user can access the new service of the host by sending a service request to the web dispatch server.

A method for managing services on a web dispatch server, the method comprising:

• registering a service definition of an application server on the web dispatch server, wherein the service definition includes a name and one or more parameters, and wherein the web dispatch server includes a web dispatch database;
• storing the service definition in the web dispatch database;
• sending a first service command from a browser to the web dispatch server;
• sending a first application request from the web dispatch server back to the browser;
• editing the one or more parameters of the service definition;
• sending a second service command from the browser to the web dispatch server;
• and
• sending a second application request from the web dispatch server back to the browser, wherein the first and second service commands are substantially equal, and wherein the first and second application requests are substantially different.

A method for discovering services available on a web dispatch provider, the method comprising:

• sending a services information query from a browser to the web dispatch provider;
• searching a web dispatch provider database for all service definitions registered with the web dispatch provider, wherein each service definition includes a name, one or more required parameters, and a description;
• and
• sending a list of all service definitions registered with the web dispatch provider back to the browser.

A method for completing an application command on a web dispatch server, the method comprising:

• receiving a service request from a client computer, wherein the service request includes only a subset of required application parameters, and wherein the client computer includes a web browser;
• translating the service request into an application request, wherein one or more default application parameters are inserted into the application request;
• and
• returning the application request to the client computer.

A method for formatting parameters of an application command on a web dispatch server, the method comprising:

• receiving a service command from a client computer, wherein the service command includes one or more unformatted parameters, and wherein the client computer includes a web browser;
• translating the service command into an application link, wherein the one or more unformatted parameters of the service command are translated into one or more formatted parameters of the application link;
• and
• returning the application link to the client computer.

A method of generating form data in a web dispatching system, the method comprising:

• directing a service request command from a browser to a dispatch server;
• transforming the service request command into an application command, wherein the application command includes form data;
• and
• redirecting the application command back to the browser.

A method for achieving parameter transparency on a web dispatch provider, the method comprising:

• receiving a service request from a client computer, wherein the service request includes one or more parameters that are not defined in a database of the web dispatch provider;
• translating the service request into an application link, wherein the one or more parameters are transparently copied from the service request into the application link;
• dispatching the application link to the client computer;
• and
• sending the application link from the client computer to an application server.

A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to perform a computerized method comprising:

• receiving a service invocation from an end-user to a dispatch server;
• processing the service invocation on the dispatch server;
• translating the service invocation on the dispatch server into an application command to an application server, wherein the translating is at least partially based on a service definition stored on the dispatch server;
• and
• redirecting the application command to the end-user.

A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to perform a computerized method comprising:

• registering a service definition of a service provider on a web dispatch server;
• receiving a first service request on the web dispatch server from an end-user;
• sending a first application request from the web dispatch server back to the end-user;
• editing the service definition;
• receiving a second service request on the web dispatch server from the end-user;
• and
• sending a second application request from the web dispatch server back to the end-user, wherein the first and second service requests are substantially equal, and wherein the first and second application requests are substantially different.

A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon to perform a computerized method comprising:

• receiving a services information query on a web dispatch server, wherein the services information query is sent from an end-user;
• searching a web dispatch server database for all service definitions registered with the web dispatch server, wherein each service definition include a name;
• and
• sending a list of all service definitions registered with the web dispatch server back to the end-user.

A method for source routing on a web dispatch server, the method comprising:

• sending a service command from a requester to the web dispatch server;
• determining which application server that provides the requested service is closest to the requestor;
• translating the service command into an application request, wherein the translating is at least partially based on the determination of the closest application server;
• and
• redirecting the application request to the requester.

A method for load-balancing of application servers, the method comprising:

• sending a service request from a requestor to a web dispatch server;
• determining which application servers that each provide the requested service are situated in a location that is substantially the same as that of the requester;
• selecting one of the application servers to be the destination application server, wherein the selecting is at least partially based on a load-balancing strategy;
• translating the service request into an application request, wherein the translating is at least partially based on the destination application server;
• and
• redirecting the application request to the requester.

A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave and representing a sequence of instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a computerized method comprising:

• receiving a service request from a requestor to a dispatch server;
• validating the service request;
• checking the service request for parameters;
• translating the service request on the dispatch server into an application request to an application server, wherein the translating is at least partially based on a service definition stored on the dispatch server;
• and
• redirecting the application request to the requestor.

A propagated signal carrying computer-readable information representing a computer program that performs a computerized method comprising:

• registering a service definition of a service provider on a web dispatch provider;
• translating a first service request from an end-user into a first content request;
• sending the first content request from the web dispatch provider to the end-user;
• editing the service definition;
• translating a second service request from the end-user into a second content request;
• and
• sending the second content request from the web dispatch provider to the end-user, wherein the first and second service requests are substantially equal, and wherein the first and second content requests are substantially different.

A computerized method for using a web dispatch server, the method comprising:

• adding a service to a database of the web dispatch server, the service having a service definition;
• sending a service discovery request from a client to the web dispatch server;
• modifying the service definition in the database of the web dispatch server;
• sending a service request from the client to the web dispatch server;
• querying the database of the web dispatch server;
• and
• translating the service request into an application command.