IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Get started with IBM BPM > Key concepts > The enterprise service bus in IBM BPM > Service applications and service modules

Imports and import bindings

Imports define interactions between SCA modules and service providers. SCA modules use imports to permit components to access external services (services that are outside the SCA module) using a local representation. Import bindings define the specific way that an external service is accessed.

If SCA modules do not need to access external services, they are not required to have imports. Mediation modules usually have one or more imports used to pass messages or requests on to their intended targets.


Interfaces and bindings

An SCA module import needs at least one interface, and an SCA module import has a single binding.


Supported import bindings

IBM BPM supports the following import bindings:


Dynamic invocation of services

Services can be invoked through any supported import binding. A service is normally found at an endpoint specified in the import. This endpoint is called a static endpoint. It is possible to invoke a different service by overriding the static endpoint. Dynamic override of static endpoints lets you invoke a service at another endpoint, through any supported import binding. Dynamic invocation of services also permits you to invoke a service where the supported import binding does not have a static endpoint.

An import with an associated binding is used to specify the protocol and its configuration for dynamic invocation. The import used for the dynamic invocation can be wired to the calling component, or it can be dynamically selected at run time.

For web service and SCA invocations, it is also possible to make a dynamic invocation without an import, with the protocol and configuration deduced from the endpoint URL. The invocation target type is identified from the endpoint URL. If an import is used, the URL must be compatible with the protocol of the import binding.

Service applications and service modules