Automatic transformation of messages between service versions

1. A method for automatic transformation of messages between service versions, comprising:

collecting message data of messages sent to two or more versions of a service;

identifying message data as relating to a version of a service;

inferring relationships between structure and content of messages sent to different versions of a service;

creating message transformation rules based on the inferred relationships wherein creating message transformation rules creates transformation rules for transforming a message format for an earlier version of a service to a message format for a later version of the service;

receiving a message for a version of the service using a proxy system;

identifying if the message is for the earlier version of the service for which there is the later version of the service, using the proxy system;

transforming the message using transformation rules for transforming the message format for the earlier version of the service to the message format for the later version of the service, using the proxy system; and

forwarding the transformed message to the later version of the service, using the proxy system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including:

monitoring message traffic to discover available service versions to which messages are sent.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including:

cataloging a service version with associated meta-data and/or instance data.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including:

phasing out an earlier version of a service when all messages received for the earlier version of the service are transformed into messages for the later version of the service.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , including:

identifying a new service version based on monitored message traffic; and

comparing the new service version with known service versions to match to an earlier version of the service.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , including:

flagging a match to an earlier version of the service to an administrator.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 , including:

constructing a service version gateway for the matched earlier version of the service.

8. A system for automatic transformation of messages between service versions, comprising:

a computer system including one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable storage media, and program instructions stored on one or more of the computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors;

a message collecting component for collecting message data of messages sent to two or more versions of a service, using the computer system;

a service identifying component for identifying message data as relating to a version of a service;

a message data interrogating component for inferring relationships between structure and content of messages sent to different versions of the service; and

a transformation rule generator for creating message transformation rules based on the inferred relationships wherein the transformation rule generator for creating message transformation rules creates transformation rules for transforming a message format for an earlier version of a service to a message format for a later version of the service;

a proxy system including a message intercepting component for receiving a message for a version of a service;

the proxy system including a service identifying component for identifying if the message is for the earlier version of the service for which there is the later version of the service; and

the proxy system including a transformation rule applying component for transforming the message using transformation rules for transforming the message format for the earlier version of the service to the message format for the later version of the service and forwarding the transformed message to the later version of the service.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 , including:

a service monitoring component for monitoring message traffic to discover available service versions to which messages are sent.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8 , including:

a service catalogue component for cataloging a service version with associated meta-data and/or instance data.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8 , including:

a service discovery component for identifying a new service version based on monitored message traffic; and

a service version matching component for comparing the new service version with known service versions to match to an earlier version of the service.

12. A computer program product for automatic transformation of messages between service versions, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by a computer to cause the computer to:

collect message data of messages sent to two or more versions of a service;

identify message data as relating to a version of a service;

infer relationships between structure and content of messages sent to different versions of the service;

create message transformation rules based on the inferred relationships wherein creating message transformation rules creates transformation rules for transforming a message format for an earlier version of a service to a message format for a later version of the service;

receiving a message for a version of the service using a proxy system;

identifying if the message is for the earlier version of the service for which there is the later version of the service, using the proxy system;

transforming the message using transformation rules for transforming the message format for the earlier version of the service to the message format for the later version of the service, using the proxy system; and

forwarding the transformed message to the later version of the service, using the proxy system.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , including:

monitoring message traffic to discover available service versions to which messages are sent.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 , including:

cataloging a service version with associated meta-data and/or instance data.