Interface Design and Versioning Framework

Harmonia addresses challenges in integrating complex systems for NetCentric computing by solving service design / versioning problems.  Versioning is a major stumbling block for defining, creating, and maintaining a functional, dynamic, composeable Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Service versioning, if unsolved, impedes SOAs such as Air Force Distributed Common Ground System Integration Backbone (DIB), Air Force SOA Implementation Initial Infrastructure Build. Our Harmonization Framework (HF) couples tools, protocols, best practices handbook, and tutorials for cradle-to-grave automation and guidance throughout the service lifetime, from initial negotiation and relationship formation between service providers and users, to years of version management.  HF works with existing services or new projects. HF addresses a fundamental problem: even though SOA may start with a coherent, business-case driven architecture, coherency can be lost with poor service interface design compounded by erratic version evolution.  HF helps automate NetCentric Enterprise Solutions for Interoperability (NESI) compliance, and emits Enterprise Management and Service Level Agreements.  Our goal:  33% time reduction for testing after version deployment, 30% improvement in service uptime and operational sustainability, and 40% annual cost reduction to adapt applications to changing service versions.  Finally HF can update code to new interface versions in traditional (non-SOA) software. BENEFIT: Harmonia addresses in this SBIR the staggering, multi-year problem the Air Force faces to interoperate and integrate legacy systems via Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) -- mandated by DoD''''s move to NetCentric computing. Our proposed Harmonization Framework (HF) is expected to yield a 33% time reduction for testing after version deployment, 30% improvement in service uptime and operational sustainability, and 40% annual cost reduction for designing initial service definitions and then maintaining applications to adapt to future service versions.  Using Air Force Headquarters cost data on creating a new service, we estimate HF can save up to $44M, a 60-fold return on investment for a Phase II SBIR.  Further savings arise because HF helps initial service definitions comply with NetCentric Enterprise Solutions for Interoperability (NESI) guidance, by leveraging existing compliance automation from another SBIR with NESI.  HF is a comprehensive framework to support both up-front design for extensibility as well as version evolution with backward compatibility, with expected transition to primes (including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, SAIC, Northrop Grumman), and MITRE.  HF reduces risk by supporting Air Force and DoD programs comply with industry standards / best practices for SOAP, UDDI, WSDL, REST, RSS, XML Schemas, etc.