Service Facets

A service is implemented in terms of a set of abstract Java interfaces. These interfaces are called Service Facets and may be requested or provided by either party in a service session. All interfaces have additional properties which are added by the connection process:

• Asynchronous invocation of any of the interfaces methods
• Notification (via callback) of the termination of interface function

The set of facets available from a service may change over time. As service APIs are enhanced, the changes should be reflected by additions to the set of facets available. Backwards compatibility may be maintained by implementing the old facets.

Facets are restricted to data types which are Serialisable, or which are Facets themselves.