Semantic Web Annotation and Representation of Cloud APIs

In this paper we present an analysis of existing annotation techniques for semantic description of Application Programming Interfaces exposed as web services through SOAP or REST based protocol. We propose an original methodology and technique for semantic annotation of web APIs particularly taylored to Cloud APIs. In cloud scenario particularly important for the characterization of cloud services are the non functional requirements, such as the service level requests, offers to be matched for reach a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and offers. The technique we illustrate in this paper includes semantic description of such non functional requirement in addition to functional ones. Two case studies on semantically describing IBM and Amazon cloud APIs are provided, in the context of the Semantic Engine development for the mosaic European project.