The principal standard reference models and architectures for SOA are
being produced by OASIS, the OMG, and
The Open Group. The purpose of
this meeting was:
To compare the standard SOA models and reference architectures
being produced by the three bodies
To consider how they can be harmonized for the benefit of the IT
architecture community
Summary
The Summit meeting followed a conference stream in which participants
in OMG, OASIS, and The Open Group SOA activities had given presentations
on their perspectives on SOA concepts and reference models, and engaged
in a panel discussion.
There are some differences between the three bodies. In particular:
OASIS and The Open Group use the terms Reference Architecture
and Reference Model in different senses.
The term service is defined in different ways.
There are differing definitions of other important SOA terms.
Work in OASIS, with input from The Open Group, had resulted in a
summary of the key differences in SOA terminology.
The meeting discussed the approaches to SOA of the three bodies, and
the differences between them. This discussion led to the following broad
conclusions:
The OASIS SOA Reference Model and Reference Architecture provide a
conceptual framework that enables understanding of SOA, within
enterprises and in multi-organization ecosystems, but they are not
directly implementable.
The Open Group SOA Reference Architecture provides a basis for
design and implementation of enterprise service-oriented
architectures and solutions.
The OMG work focuses on architecture description and on
model-driven implementation.
The Open Group SOA Ontology takes SOA concepts from the OASIS SOA
Reference Model, adds other concepts, and describes them in the
formal Web Ontology Language (OWL).
The three bodies are describing the same concepts, but are
sometimes describing them in different ways.
These differences of description would not be likely to lead to
differences of implementation.
Outputs
The participants in the meeting agreed on the following statement:
"A group of OASIS, The Open Group, and OMG members met today in
San Diego to discuss positioning and harmonization of their ongoing SOA
projects and activities. They concluded that there was no significant
obstacle and made plans to continue this activity."
Next Steps
The participants agreed to set up an email list and hold
teleconferences to continue the discussions.
