System and method for incorporating web services in a web site
To facilitate client access to web services, a server may be configured to package or bundle a function call for a web service with associated information. This information may include parameters for the function call and/or software code that can facilitate the function call. The software code may be configured to format user input for use as parameters of the function call, to prompt the user for parameters, to control the display of the web services received in response to execution of the function call, or to otherwise facilitate use of the function call. The resulting function call package may be distributed to multiple clients.
1. A method, comprising:
at a web service provider computer, creating a package containing:
a function call corresponding to a web service provided by a web service provider;
presentation information associated with the web service; and
code associated with the function call; and
providing the package to a client computer over a network connection, wherein the code associated with the function call corresponding to the web service assists a client web site in:
providing one or more function call parameters;
making the function call to the web service running on a server computer remote from the client computer, wherein the package includes information that enables the client web site to properly format input/output parameters required by the function call; and
presenting results of the function call through the client web site with the presentation information associated with the web service, thereby allowing the web service provider to retain control of the presentation information associated with the web service provided through the client web site.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the package includes text files for incorporating the web service in the client web site.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the package includes a properties file, a style sheet, or a configuration file for client-side modification of the package.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the package is redistributed by the client web site to one or more web sites for incorporating the web service in the one or more web sites.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the client computer is associated with a user of the client web site and wherein the package is directly distributed to the client computer.
6. A system, comprising:
a processor;
one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions translatable by the processor to perform:
creating a package containing:
a function call corresponding to a web service provided by a web service provider;
presentation information associated with the web service; and
code associated with the function call, wherein the package is provided to
a client computer communicatively coupled to the system over a network connection, wherein the code associated with the function call corresponding to the web service assists a client web site in:
providing one or more function call parameters;
making the function call to the web service running on a server computer remote from the client computer, wherein the package includes information that enables the client web site to properly format input/output parameters required by the function call; and
presenting results of the function call through the client web site with the presentation information associated with the web service, thereby allowing the web service provider to retain control of the presentation information associated with the web service provided through the client web site.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the package includes text files for incorporating the web service in the client web site.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the package includes a properties file, a style sheet, or a configuration file for client-side modification of the package.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the package is redistributed by the client web site to one or more web sites for incorporating the web service in the one or more web sites.
10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the client computer is associated with a user of the client web site and wherein the package is directly distributed to the client computer.
11. A computer program product comprising one or more non- transitory computer readable media storing instructions translatable by at least one processor to perform:
creating a package containing:
a function call corresponding to a web service provided by a web service provider;
presentation information associated with the web service; and
code associated with the function call, wherein the package is provided over a network connection to a client computer associated with a client web site, wherein the code associated with the function call corresponding to the web service assists the client web site in:
providing one or more function call parameters;
making the function call to the web service running on a server computer remote from the client computer, wherein the package includes information that enables the client web site to properly format input/output parameters required by the function call; and
presenting results of the function call through the client web site with the information associated with the web service, thereby allowing the web service provider to retain control of the presentation information associated with the web service provided through the client web site.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the package includes text files for incorporating the web service in the client web site.
13. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the package includes a properties file, a style sheet, or a configuration file for client-side modification of the package.
14. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the package is redistributed by the client web site to one or more web sites for incorporating the web service in the one or more web sites.