DISPATCHING CLIENT REQUESTS TO APPROPRIATE SERVER-SIDE METHODS

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for dispatching client requests to appropriate server-side methods. When a client request is received, a Web server refers to a service contract framework that maps URI paths and HTTP methods to corresponding server implemented methods. A server implemented method corresponding to a URI path and/or an HTTP method included in the client request is identified. The server implemented method is invoked to process the client request message. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide a uniform mechanism to dispatch HTTP requests to designated server implemented methods based solely on URI path and HTTP method. That is, an HTTP request can be dispatched to a designated server implemented method without having to include additional dispatch metadata within the HTTP request (e.g., in a SOAP envelope).