OpenSOA SDK - Deep Dive

Service Oriented Architecture is a principle that allows loosely coupled systems to communicate via standard web technologies.

The main unit in SOA is the Service - This is an object that encapsulates an area of functionality. These services expose there functionality via a well defined interface (usually via a WSDL file). Consumers of this service use this interface definition and a standard communications protocol (usually SOAP-XML) to invoke the required functionality.

SOA's goal is to allow the building of functionality rich and powerful applications, promoting interoperability, reuse with a low integration overhead.

What is OpenSOA?
The OpenScape UC Application consists of a number of distinct SOA services each encapsulating a UC feature area (such as presence, contact management, etc). These services are hosted within the Siemens Enterprise Communications OpenSOA framework. OpenSOA uses Web Service technology to realize the principles of the SOA architecture.



Each service in the OpenSOA framework has its own defined interface and is accessible from any programming language via SOAP/XML. This collection of OpenSOA service interfaces forms the OpenSOA SDK.

An important point to make here is that the SDK allows direct access to ALL the OpenSOA services - the SDK is not a watered down offering, we allow you to have access to same OpenSOA service as we do when building our own clients. This allows you to build powerful and feature rich integrations by combing and blending the functionality of the wide range of services offered.

What services are offered?
Below is an Overview of what services are offered with high level decriptions: (Low level descriptions and API documentation of every service and method is also available)

Clients - Brandable and extensible set of standard clients with portlet technology and a general client framework for harmonized applications

Rules, Workflow - Personal dynamic workflow with a multitude of inputs including a rules engine

Conferencing - Conference planning, control and browsing

User Notification & Prompting - Services used for different kind of notification mechanisms e.g. notification for Tell-Me-When conditions

Basic Communication - Communication related services: real time, near real time and non real time including call controls, collaboration, media presence

Identity and Access Management - Access Management & Security, Domain Management, user and contact management

Business Systems Integration - Groupware connectors for contact, calendar and mail folder integration. Integration into Groupware clients. Business Application Integration for IBM, SAP, Microsoft

Presence - The presence service provides user and media presence status and integration with the presence state of IBM Lotus Sametime or MS OCS 2007

Media Services - Voice Portal application framework, Media Mixing, Voice Messaging/Recording, Tones & Announcements

Core Framework - SOA Infrastructure, Container Runtime, Communication Framework, Installation, Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and Engineering Tools

Administration & Monitoring - Diagnostics and System Analyses, System Operation & Maintenance; Common Management Portal. License Management

For each OpenSOA service a WSDL file is provided.

Due to the complexities and ‘stateful’ nature of call modeling as well as the WSDL file we also provide a com library (the BCOM API) to allow access to our Call control (BCOM) service.

Getting Started
Join the OpenScape Fusion Developer Program to access a wide range of tools, documentation and training for the OpenSOA SDK to help you get started as an OpenSOA developer. OpenScape Fusion Developer Program offers both on-site and cloud hosted development environments.