[DotGNU]Re: Definition of "webservice"

[Bill Lance]

Let's take as an example MapQuest,  or what MapQuest
might become.

It offers an number os useful services to the Internet
public.  All
of the currently available services (of which I'm
aware) are based
on the browser-active server model.  The user enters
certain perameters
in a html page display, and is served back another
html display page
showing information related to the users perameters. 
A commodity
browser is all the user needs.  Lets call this service
A.

The proceedures used by MapQuest's server to qenerate
the maps for a
set of perameters obviously exist.  Some or all of
them could be
exposed to the generl net with middleware and made
available to the
public.  Instead of a whole html display page, a
graphic file of the
resulting map, or some other data is returned. Lets
call this Service
B. This could include some new functions, such as
distance between
two points, or address to lat/long conversions.  These
functions could
probably easily be described with protocols.


Given the quality of their data and mapping software,
this could
probably evolve into a very polished GIS resource. 
This could also
be made available publicly or by subscription.  It
could include many
high level, professional GIS functions.  Lets call
this Service C.
This level of function will most likely be far to
complexe to
publish in a machine readable form.  A manual,
intended for human
consumption, will be needed.  Calls to the system will
come and go
on the net, but from specialized applications using
call parameters
carefully crafted by a knowledable user.

Which of these are "Web Services" for the purpose of
this lists
discussion?



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