Computer method and system providing access to data of a target system
A computer system and method provides access to Web (global computer network) services data of a target system. The target system exposes data through multiple web services. An application interface is adapted to interface with the target system re-using existing (predefined) web services among applications for the target system. The application interface queries the exposed data. A mapping member maps between application interface query of exposed data and syntax of objects useable in a subject application. The mapping member enables the subject application to access data of object instances generated in response to the query.
1. A computer-implemented system providing access to network services data of a target system, the computer-implemented system comprising a hardware processor configured to implement:
an application interface configured to interface with the target system, the target system exposing a first and a second data through a plurality of global computer network services, the application interface further configured to define a query of the first exposed data and second exposed data along a federated common data, the application interface of the target system using in common one of the plurality of global computer network services across two or more applications, such that the application interface reuses global computer network services among the two or more applications for the target system; and
a mapping member configured to create a map, along the federated common data, between (a) the query of the exposed data by the application interface, and (b) syntax of objects in a subject application, the mapping member enabling the subject application to access object instances generated in response to the defined query;
wherein in implementing the query, the application interface is configured to chain calls to at least two of the global computer network services of the target system to form an object representing a combined view of the first exposed data and second exposed data, in a manner resulting in a presentation of the combined view along the federated common data of the first exposed data and the second exposed data from the target system;
wherein the at least two global computer network services are previously provided by the target system such that the application interface reuses existing assets of the target system.
2. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mapping member from the combined view maps query syntax of objects in the subject application.
3. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computer system is employed by a collaboration platform, and wherein the target system is an external system to the collaboration platform and configured as a distributed object client.
4. A computer system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the subject application is implemented as any of an extensible mapping language (XML) client, a remote method invocation (RMI) client, an enterprise JAVA Bean (EJB) client and a JAVA Native Interface (JNI) client.
5. A computer implemented method of accessing network services data of a target system, comprising:
interfacing between a subject application and the target system, the target system exposing a first and a second data through a plurality of global computer network services, the interfacing including implementing defining a query of the first exposed data and the second exposed data along a federated common data, the interfacing of the target system using in common one of the plurality of global computer network services across two or more applications, such that global computer network services are reused among the two or more applications for the target system; and
creating a map, along the federated common data, between (a) the query of the exposed data and (b) syntax of objects issued by the subject application, the mapping enabling the subject application to access object instances generated in response to the defined query;
wherein in implementing the query, the interfacing chains calls to at least two of the global computer network services of the target system to form an object representing a combined view of the first exposed data and second exposed data, in a manner resulting in a presentation of the combined view along the federated common data of the first exposed data and the second exposed data from the target system;
wherein the at least two global computer network services are previously provided by the target system such that the interfacing reuses existing assets of the target system.
6. A computer method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the mapping includes:
from the combined view, mapping query syntax of objects in the subject application.
7. A computer method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the method is utilized by a collaboration platform, and
the target system is an external system to the collaboration platform, and configured as a distributed object client.
8. A computer method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the subject application is implemented as any of an extensible mapping language (XML) client, a remote method invocation (RMI) client, an enterprise JAVA Bean (EJB) client and a JAVA Native Interface (JNI) client.