An extension to a CORBA trader to support XML service descriptions

Search functionality of a CORBA trader is restricted to search for service offers and assumes clients' knowledge of service types of those offers. It would be more flexible if the clients can also import other information, i.e. service types and interfaces, before trading for service offers, or conduct keyword search. With this requirement, making service descriptions into XML format can be helpful. This paper focuses on the trader extension that can transform service types and service offers within a CORBA trader into XML service descriptions, and vice versa. The transformation is based on our Document Type Definitions for service types and service offers. This transformer module can be used to create XML service descriptions that will enable flexible XML-based service discovery. The transformer also facilitates clients in viewing details of CORBA services from Web browsers and helps with exporting service descriptions to the trader.