Stepwise deployment methodology of a service oriented architecture for business communities

This paper describes the deployment of a Service Oriented Architecture in the specific context of the 'Business Communities', i.e. Communities of heterogeneous actors that cooperate in the same business area. The architecture is based on XML and Web Services technologies. More specifically the paper analyzes the structure and the requirements of Business Communities in general, derives the requirements of the architecture and describes its implementation. Finally, a case study is presented to show how the architecture has been implemented for the Business Community of the Port of Genoa characterized by users operating in the cargo and transport business area.