Service-oriented architecture

This paper attempts a definition of service derived by unifying its usage in practice. In doing so it identifies participant's perspective as separate from actual different usages. Using this as an aid, the paper analyses the criteria applied in the use of service and considers how these can be aligned to derive commonality underlying the usage. Also included is a brief outline of the way in which a service-oriented architecture following such a model would affect the practice and process of developing large-scale, distributed software systems.