Microsoft updates WS-Discovery specification

Microsoft has updated its Web Services Dynamic Discovery (WS-Discovery) specification. First released in February 2004, the specification was revised based on feedback received from the WS-Discovery Feedback Workshop held in May.

The WS-Discovery specification defines a multicast discovery protocol to locate services. Authored by Microsoft, BEA, Canon, Intel, and webMethods, WS-Discovery is part of a "composable" architecture, in that it is designed to be used with other Web Services specifications in the WS stack in order to provide a full range of security for Web Services. WS-Discovery "specifically relies on other Web Services specifications" to provide secure message delivery and to express Web Service and client policy, according to Microsoft.

On May 19, 2004, a Specification Feedback Workshop was held for WS-Discovery. Hosted by Intel in California, the workshop encompassed 21 attendees from 12 companies, including BEA Systems, Canon, CommerceOne, Epson, Intel, Iona, Lexmark, Microsoft, Ricoh, and webMethods. The discussion including implementation experiences and possible future areas for investigation; the specification was then revised based on the input received at the workshop.