System and method for profiling messages

1 . A method for automatically routing an electronic message to a selected Web service endpoint for the efficient processing of the electronic message, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of

predefining a resource-optimization system for a client application message between a Web service and a source, such that the resource-optimization system comprises automatically

identifying at least one resource capability for each of a plurality of Web service endpoints,

determining at least one message resource requirement of the client application message based on the content of the client application message, and

selecting an appropriate Web service endpoint based on the message resource requirement of the client application message and the resource capability of the appropriate Web service endpoint; and

dynamically routing the electronic message by

determining, with the resource-optimization system, at least one resource requirement of the electronic message based on the content of the electronic message,

determining, with the resource-optimization system, the selected Web service endpoint based on the resource requirement of the electronic message and the resource capability of the selected Web service endpoint, and

directing the electronic message to the selected Web service endpoint for execution.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein predefining a resource-optimization system further comprises

setting up a metadata storage, the metadata storage comprising service profiles that specify information about a plurality of resource capabilities for each of the plurality of Web service endpoints.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein predefining a resource-optimization system for a client application message between a Web service and a source further comprises

setting up a service proxy to identify the message resource requirement for the client application message and to route the client application message to the appropriate Web service endpoint, the service proxy comprising

a profiler engine that

analyzes the content of the client application message, determines the message resource requirement for the client application message, and

appends to the client application message a message profile tag identifying the message resource requirement for the client application message;

a resource allocation engine that

matches the message resource requirement identified in the message profile tag with the most appropriate service profile stored in a metadata storage; and

an invocation engine that

routes the client application message to the Web service identified by the appropriate service profile, and

activates the Web service to execute a request contained in the client application message.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the message profile tag further comprises a header in a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) envelope.

5 . A method for routing an electronic message to a selected Web service endpoint 210 for the efficient processing of the electronic message, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of

predefining a resource-optimization system for a client application message between a Web service and a source, such that the resource-optimization system comprises automatically

identifying a plurality of resource capabilities for each of a plurality of Web service endpoints,

storing, in a metadata storage, a service profile which specifies information about the resource capabilities for each of the plurality of Web service endpoints,

setting up a service proxy to identify a message resource requirement for the client application message and to route the client application message to an appropriate Web service endpoint; and

dynamically routing the electronic message by

determining, with the resource-optimization system, the resource requirement of the electronic message based on the content of the electronic message,

determining, with the resource-optimization system, the selected Web service endpoint based on the resource requirement of the electronic message and the resource capability of the selected Web service endpoint, and

directing the electronic message to the selected Web service endpoint for execution.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein setting up a service proxy to identify a message resource requirement for the client application message and to route the client application message to an appropriate Web service endpoint further comprises

providing a profiler engine that

analyzes the content of the client application message,

determines the message resource requirement for the client application message, and

appends to the client application message a message profile tag identifying the message resource requirement for the client application message;

providing a resource allocation engine that

matches the message resource requirement identified in the message profile tag with the most appropriate service profile stored in a metadata storage; and

providing an invocation engine that

routes the client application message to the Web service identified by the appropriate service profile, and

activates the Web service to execute a request contained in the client application message.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the message profile tag further comprises a header in a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) envelope.

8 . A resource-optimization system that characterizes the content of client messages before the transmission of the client messages to final Web service endpoints, and routes the client messages to appropriate Web service endpoints dynamically, based on message content, the system comprising

a first server;

a resource optimization system provided on the first server, the resource optimization system comprising

a metadata storage,

a service proxy, and

at least two Web services;

at least one client server;

an application provided on the client server, such that the application can send electronic messages; and

a network interface between the first server and at least one client server, such that electronic messages can be transferred between the servers.