Semantic Service Specification for V&V of Service Composition and Business Processes

Abstract

Semantic specification of services based on formal logic can be used for automated verification of service composition. In order to make such verifications consistent with validations of service compositions in the context of business processes, more and more knowledge needs to be included in the related specifications. We show using a simple example that after adding such additional knowledge directly to the semantic specifications of services, they may become over-specified. We found that this additional knowledge can be a special kind of business rules. Therefore, we propose to specify them separately, but also based on formal logic. More precisely, the use of the Fluent Calculus and the related FLUX tool enabled automated and guaranteed verification of composed services against the specifications of the single services. Adding the formalized business rules into such verifications made them consistent with validations of service compositions in the context of business processes. Overall, both verification and validation (V&V) are essential for service composition and business processes. As a consequence, this novel approach to V&V should support a comprehensive approach to service design.