Web service interfaces for design repositories

Reuse of design knowledge is an important goal in engineering design, and has received much attention. A substantial set of algorithms, methodology, and developed systems exist which support various aspects of this goal. However, the majority of these systems are built around a particular user interface, often some form of Web-based repository portal. The work described here presents search and other core functionality as web services rather than a monolithic repository system. These services may then be employed by a variety of applications, integrating them into interfaces familiar to the designer, extending functionality, streamlining their use, and enabling them to be employed throughout the design process. This paper demonstrates this approach by wrapping previously developed repository search algorithms as web services, and then using these within a plug-in for an existing commercial CAD environment. Based on issues encountered in developing this demonstration, this paper also discusses the challenges and potential approaches toward a more general, widespread application of web services in engineering design.