During my work in the last few days I have begun to write a security framework that hides the complexity of WS-Security on the base of SOAP. The work has inspired me to think about possible use cases that are go behind the securing of simple web services. One such approach that comes in mind is the creation of an intelligent and secure instant messaging on the base of WS-Security, SOAP and Linked Open Data. The approach is nothing new (see SILC protocol), but the underlying technology allows to optimize such a newly created protocol with intelligent reasoning features such as:
- Conversation Analysis: With the help of semantic annotation the conversation between two or more person could be analyzed. For example: What is the thematic of the talk? Who talks with whom?. On the base of this information helper modules could provide useful services, such as a link to the problem solution if the conversation tries to solve some problems or more detailed information about the other person (link to FOAF files!?!).
- Pretending Conversation: The unencrypted part could be pretend a talk and the SOAP message could piggyback the real, sensitive conversation in encrypted form. The pretending of a talk is possible through the conversation analysis of previous talks. So a useful conversation could simulated.
These two categories are only two of a lot of new possibilities that could be gained by a semantic annotated and secured chat protocol. The idea may triggers problems through the practical implementations but is worth looking into. The nice thing about such a protocol is the possibility to use well-known technology to improve the user experience.
For the SOAP Security Framework look at our git repository
, also available in our maven repository. At the moment it’s only a wrapper around the WSS4J library that makes the handling of security features easier, but in the near future the library will be maybe expanded with useful gimmicks.
About Alex Oberhauser
Alex Oberhauser’s current private and professional interests are Research and Development in the area of Semantic Web and Service Oriented Architecture with the focus on the applicability of new technologies in real world scenarios. He is founder of the meta project Networld and the Crisis Information Platform Sigimera (http://www.sigimera.org).
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The forum is a bgrihetr place thanks to your posts. Thanks!
Artciels like these put the consumer in the driver seat-very important.
Wow! Great tihnknig! JK
It’s much easier to underastnd when you put it that way!