This illustration, adapted from an ebPML rendition, represents the universe of Web Services protocol development today. There is presently a tidal wave of technology development taking place, as can be determined from a visit to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) or the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) web sites, the standards bodies overseeing these development activities.

Categorically, the protocols fall into either a messaging or service function, and these in turn are further characterized as being Runtime or Design Time executables, or both. There are three core protocols; two of which are recommendations of the W3C - Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and Web Services Definition Languare (WSDL); and Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI) which is in the process of becoming a standard through OASIS. All of the other Web Services protocols provide additional functionality and capabilities in support of the core WS protocols. Within the inidvidual protocol categories itemized in the diagram there may be multiple competing specifications, which keeps things interesting.

It is the Center's mission to say abreast of all of this activity, both from a conceptual and implementation standpoint, and convey the meaning, value, and methodologies for adoption of these technologies to our subscribers.