The communication middleware for collaborative learning object repository network

Web Service Description Language (WSDL) is designed for well-defined services. This requirement is essential for Web Services (WS) to ensure interoperability throughout a service lifecycle, support service-oriented architecture, and provide solid framework for business transactions. However, this constraint makes WSDL unsuitable for defining common interface functions for a collaborative system. This thesis argues that XML-based messaging middleware infrastructure is more effective and suitable for providing communication protocol for an evolving and collaborative system. The infrastructure can benefit from the well-established WS framework without depending on the WS technologies. We underpin our claim through the design and implementation of the eduSource Communication Layer (ECL). We show how XML-based messaging middleware can expand WS technologies to provide communication framework for an ongoing developing environment of learning object repository networks. Finally, we confirm the advantage of our approach using comparative analysis and use our experiences to write guidelines and recommendations for future development.