Patent attributes
Example embodiments provide for a new set of binding extensions that allow individual messages within a contract of a Network Protocol Description Language data structure (e.g., a portType of a WSDL document or file) to flow over different transports and to different network transport addresses. Further, example embodiments provide for a concise expression of protocol choices through the use of a default element for specifying one of a plurality of binding mechanisms. Moreover, the present invention also provides for not only defining services within a document or data structure through standard URLs, but also for allowing the addressing of a service using an endpoint reference as defined by, e.g., WS-Addressing. This allows for a more robust way to address a service in a document by providing a lightweight, extensible, self-contained description of the service.