A collection of operations that perform a useful set of functions in a network, access to which is implemented as an endpoint. In a service-oriented network, services are defined by a service contract. The more exact term in the context of a service-oriented network is service provider.
See consumer.
A JBI component that provides business logic and transformation services and also consumes such services.
Artifacts deployed to a JBI component. A service unit configures the component to provide a piece of functionality such as expose an endpoint or route messages.
A loosely-coupled distributed architecture in which service providers make resources available to service consumers in a standardized way. SOA is language and protocol independent.