Abstract

In this paper, we present our approach to describeand compose services for distant learning and researchactivities. For this purpose, we propose a metadata modelfor indexing services with three dimensions: a service can beviewed as a learning resource, as a resource that contributeand help researchers to perform their tasks in a communityand as a service with a large scope. This model can beused by clients (learners/teachers or researchers) to queryand discover services via for example a facilitator wehave developed. We propose an approach for automaticcomposition of services which is based on facilitator. It relieson the semantic description of service behavior. We describethe latter with an automaton. This includes the descriptionof the interface through the inputs/outputs and conditions(post and pre-conditions) that control the operations. Weextend the functionalities of the facilitator to become acomposition engine that enables services or resources to becomposed automatically by comparing their inputs/outputsflows to help learners/researchers in their distant learningand research activities.