Web services runtime for dataset transformation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9477730-B2
Application number	US-91478710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2010
Priority date	Oct 28, 2010
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

Various aspects for providing a runtime for dataset transformation are disclosed. In one aspect, data consumption requests are received. The requested data is retrieved from a web service in an arbitrary form, and subsequently transformed into a standardized result from the arbitrary form. In another aspect, a user interface is displayed to a content provider, and an input identifying a transform function selected by the content provider is received via the user interface. A transform assembly is then generated based on the input, which facilitates retrieving data from a web service in an arbitrary form, and transforming the data into a standardized result by calling the selected transform function. In yet another aspect, third party code is associated with a transform assembly. An execution of the third party code is then managed such that at least one aspect of the transform assembly is operated according to the execution.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer system, the computer system comprising:
a processor;
system memory coupled to the processor, the system memory storing instructions that are executable by the processor; and
the processor executing the instructions stored in the system memory to:
receive a request to consume data maintained at a service;
access a portion of data output by the service in a service response, the portion of data in an arbitrary form, the arbitrary form used by the service;
associate third party code with a transform assembly; the transform assembly comprises at least one application programming interface (API) according to a manifest based on a conceptual model (CSDL);
use the transform assembly and the third party code to provide an enhanced data feature associated with the portion of data by transforming the portion of data in the arbitrary form into other data in a standardized format in the system memory so that data provided by the service managed like data from a relational store in a uniform manner, transforming the data including:
identify one or more transformation functions previously selected by a content provider of the service, the one or more transformation functions matched to the arbitrary form by the content provider to transform data from the arbitrary form to the standardized format, the one or more transform functions selected, from among a plurality of offered transform functions, through a user interface based on input from the content provider, the one or more transform functions maintained in a local library or accessed from an external library; and
apply the transform assembly, which calls the one or more transformation functions, to the portion of data to transform the portion of data from the arbitrary form to the other data in the standardized format, applying the one or more transform functions allowing the service to be substantially treated like the relational store; and

provide the generated other data from the system memory in an outgoing response to the received request.

2. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising the processor executing the instructions to map the service onto a parameterized function.

3. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising the processor executing the instructions to:
process the other portion of data in the standardized format to realize a relational store capability of the service, wherein processing includes performing at least one of a projection, an ordering, or a joining on a tabular result.

4. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the processor executing the instructions stored in the system memory to apply the transform assembly comprises the processor executing the instructions stored in the system memory to apply the one or more transformation functions to treat the service like the relational store with some degradation based on behavior of the service.

5. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein the processor executing the instructions stored in the system memory to treat the service like the relational store with some degradation based on behavior of the service comprises the processor executing the instructions stored in the system memory to transform behavior of the service for compliance with information as a service.

6. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising the processor executing the third party code at runtime to provide a runtime service associated with the transform assembly.

7. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising the processor executing the third party code at load time to provide a load time service associated with the transform assembly.

8. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising the processor executing the third party code in conjunction with uploading the transform assembly at a runtime unit to provide an on-boarding time service associated with the transform assembly.

9. The computer system of claim 1 , further comprising the processor executing the instructions to:
receive a second request to consume second data maintained at a second different service;
access a second portion of data output by the second service, the second portion of data in a second different arbitrary form, the second different arbitrary form used by the second service;
generate second other data responsive to the second request by transforming the second portion of data from the second different arbitrary form into the second other data in the standardized format so that data from the second service can be managed along with data from the relational store in the uniform manner, transforming the data including:
identify a second one or more transformation functions previously selected by a second different content provider, the second one or more transformation functions matched to the second arbitrary form by the second different content provider to transform data from the second arbitrary form to the standardized format, the second one or more transform functions selected, from among the plurality of offered transform functions, through a user interface based on input from the second different content provider; and
apply the second one or more transform functions to the second portion of data to transform the second portion of data from the second different arbitrary form to the second other data in the standardized format, applying the second one or more transform functions allowing the second service to be substantially treated like the relational store; and

provide the generated second other data in an additional outgoing response.

10. A processor implemented method for use at a computer system, the computer system including a processor and system memory, the processor implemented method implemented on the processor for transforming service behavior into behavior compliant with information as a service, the processor implemented method comprising:
displaying a user interface, using the processor, to a content provider, wherein the content provider is associated with consumable data managed by a service, the consumable data in an arbitrary form compatible with the behavior of the service;
receiving an input from the content provider via the user interface, using the processor, wherein the input identifies at least one transform function selected by the content provider, the at least one transform function for use in transforming data from the arbitrary form into other data in a standardized format so that data provided by the service can be managed along with data from a relational store in a uniform manner, the at least one transform selected, from among a plurality of available transforms, by the content provider, the at least one transform matched to the arbitrary form by the content provider, the at least one transform function maintained in a local library or accessed from an external library;
generating a transform assembly in the system memory for uploading to a runtime unit, the transform assembly including the at least one transform based on the received input, wherein the transform assembly along with associated third party code to provide an enhanced data feature for associated data by transforming data from the arbitrary form to other data in the standardized format allowing the service to be substantially treated like the relational store using at least one application programming interface (API) according to a manifest based on a conceptual model (CSDL), including:
accessing data in the arbitrary form; and
apply the transform assembly, which calls the at least one transform function, to transform the data from the arbitrary form into the other data in the standardized format; and

providing the transformed data from the system memory in an outgoing

Assignees

• Liensberger Christian
• Khosravy Moe
• Meijer Erik
• Bouw Rene
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Liensberger Christian
• Khosravy Moe
• Meijer Erik
• Bouw Rene

Classifications

• G06F16/258 Primary

  Data format conversion from or to a database · CPC title

• G06Q10/10

  Office automation; Time management · CPC title

• G06F17/30569 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic