Method and system for dynamically specifying a format for data provided by a web service invocation

A computer system comprising a first computing unit including:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable memory unit coupled to said processor, said memory unit containing instructions executable by said processor to implement a method of dynamically specifying a formats for data provided by web service invocations in a networked computing environment, said method comprising:
• said first computing unit receiving, via a network, a first request from a second computing unit for a first data item residing on said first computing unit, said first computing unit providing a web service, said first request being an invocation of said web service, wherein said first request includes an executable template script, wherein said executable template script includes a first definition specifying a first format that structures said first data item as a formatted data item for receipt by said second computing unit as a result of said first request, and wherein said executable template script further includes a first instruction for invoking a function residing in said first computing unit to retrieve said first data item residing on said first computing unit;
• said first computing unit receiving said executable template script within said first request;
• said first computing unit executing said executable template script using logic residing in said first computing unit, said executing said executable template script comprising:
• invoking said function a first time by performing said first instruction included in said executable template script, retrieving said first data item in response to said invoking said function said first time, and generating said formatted data item structured by said first format specified by said first definition;
• said first computing unit sending said formatted data item to said second computing unit;
• said first computing unit receiving a second request from another computing unit for said first data item residing on said first computing unit, said second request being another invocation of said web service;
• within said second request, said first computing unit receiving a modification of said executable template script that includes said instruction for invoking said function and further includes a second definition instead of said first definition, wherein said second definition specifies a second format that is different from said first format and that structures said first data item as a second formatted data item that is different from said first formatted data item;
• said first computing unit executing said modification of said executable template script by invoking said function a second time by performing said first instruction included in said modification of said executable template script, retrieving said first data item in response to said invoking said function said second time, and generating said second formatted data item structured by said second format specified by said second definition, wherein said executing said modification of said executable template script that includes said generating said second formatted data item structured by said second format specified by said second definition uses said logic residing in said first computing unit that was also used to perform said executing said executable template script that includes said generating said formatted data item structured by said first format specified by said first definition, wherein said executing said executable template script does not require an agreement between said first computing unit and said second computing unit about said first format structuring said formatted data item, and wherein said executing said modification of said executable template script does not require an agreement between said first computing unit and said another computing unit about said second format structuring said second formatted data item;
• and
• subsequent to said executing said modification of said executable template script, said first computing unit sending said second formatted data item to said another computing unit, wherein said second formatted data item is said first data item structured in said second format.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device having a computer readable program code stored therein, said computer readable program code containing instructions that are carried out by a processor of a first computing unit to implement a method of dynamically specifying formats for data provided by web service invocations in a networked computing environment, said method comprising:

• said first computing unit receiving, via a network, a first request from a second computing unit for a first data item residing on said first computing unit, said first computing unit providing a web service, said first request being an invocation of said web service, wherein said first request includes an executable template script, wherein said executable template script includes a first definition specifying a first format that structures said first data item as a formatted data item for receipt by said second computing unit as a result of said first request, and wherein said executable template script further includes a first instruction for invoking a function residing in said first computing unit to retrieve said first data item residing on said first computing unit;
• said first computing unit receiving said executable template script within said first request;
• said first computing unit executing said executable template script using logic residing in said first computing unit, said executing said executable template script comprising:
• invoking said function a first time by performing said first instruction included in said executable template script, retrieving said first data item in response to said invoking said function said first time, and generating said formatted data item structured by said first format specified by said first definition;
• said first computing unit sending said formatted data item to said second computing unit;
• said first computing unit receiving a second request from another computing unit for said first data item residing on said first computing unit, said second request being another invocation of said web service;
• within said second request, said first computing unit receiving a modification of said executable template script that includes said instruction for invoking said function and further includes a second definition instead of said first definition, wherein said second definition specifies a second format that is different from said first format and that structures said first data item as a second formatted data item that is different from said first formatted data item;
• said first computing unit executing said modification of said executable template script by invoking said function a second time by performing said first instruction included in said modification of said executable template script, retrieving said first data item in response to said invoking said function said second time, and generating said second formatted data item structured by said second format specified by said second definition, wherein said executing said modification of said executable template script that includes said generating said second formatted data item structured by said second format specified by said second definition uses said logic residing in said first computing unit that was also used to perform said executing said executable template script that includes said generating said formatted data item structured by said first format specified by said first definition, wherein said executing said executable template script does not require an agreement between said first computing unit and said second computing unit about said first format structuring said formatted data item, and wherein said executing said modification of said executable template script does not require an agreement between said first computing unit and said another computing unit about said second format structuring said second formatted data item;
• and
• subsequent to said executing said modification of said executable template script, said first computing unit sending said second formatted data item to said another computing unit, wherein said second formatted data item is said first data item structured in said second format.

A method of dynamically specifying a format for data provided by a web service invocation in a networked computing environment, comprising:

• receiving, by a first computing unit via a network, a request from a second computing unit for a first data item residing on said first computing unit, said first computing unit providing a web service, said request being an invocation of said web service, wherein said request includes an executable template script, wherein said executable template script includes a definition specifying a first format that structures said first data item as a formatted data item for receipt by said second computing unit as a result of said request, and wherein said executable template script further includes an instruction for invoking a function residing in said first computing unit to retrieve said first data item residing on said first computing unit;
• receiving, by said first computing unit and within said request, said executable template script;
• executing, by a processor of said first computing unit, said executable template script, said executing comprising:
• invoking said function by performing said instruction, retrieving said first data item in response to said invoking, and generating said formatted data item structured by said first format specified by said definition;
• sending, by said first computing unit, said formatted data item to said second computing unit;
• generating, by said first computing unit, a SOAP message including said formatted data item, wherein said sending said formatted data item includes sending, by said first computing unit, said SOAP message to said second computing unit, wherein said sending said SOAP message facilitates an extraction of said first data item from said formatted data item by said second computing unit, wherein said extraction utilizes logic residing on said second computing unit, said logic indicating said first format specified by said definition included in said executable template script, wherein said logic includes an XPath expression that indicates that said SOAP message includes said first data item, an XML start tag and an XML end tag, said first data item included in said SOAP message being one of:
• all data between said XML start tag and said XML end tag and a portion of said all data between said XML start tag and said XML end tag, wherein said XPath expression includes an identifier that specifies said XML start tag and said XML end tag, and wherein said first data item being one of said all data between said XML start tag and said XML end tag and said portion of said all data indicates said first format.