Architecture for Web-based services integration

Industrial applications and systems still lack in adopting the Web Services architecture. Legacy systems, either OPC-based or proprietary ones, compose a huge source of data, which can be migrated and integrated into enterprise-level information systems. Within the context of prevailing and emerging technologies, such as HTTP, XML, SOAP, OPC and Web-enabled application servers, we propose an architecture that allows for the integration of existing stand-alone industrial automation systems into Web-based distributed environments, forming the base for the provision of large-scale e-services by a multitude of service providers to industrial-type clients.