Service variability patterns

Abstract

Service-oriented computing (SOC) increases flexibility of IT systems and helps enterprises to meet their changing needs. Different methods address changing requirements in service-oriented environment. Many solutions exist to address variability, however, each solution is tailored to a specific problem, e.g. at one specific layer in SOC. We survey variability mechanisms from literature and summarize solutions, consequences, and possible combinations in a pattern catalogue. Based on the pattern catalogue, we compare different variability patterns and their combinations. Our catalogue helps to choose an appropriate technique for the variability problem at hand and illustrates its consequences in SOC. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.