Web Services Enablement

Input device types

Web Services Enablement provides two types of input devices. REST and SOAP web service input devices communicate with applications by calling web services and retrieving information that RICOH ProcessDirector uses to create jobs.

Notification object types

Web Services Enablement provides two types of notification objects. REST and SOAP web service notifications call web services to update an application when a job or printer event occurs. For example, a notification can update an application when all the items in an order job ship to a customer. A notification also can alert an application when a printing error occurs, or when an input device status changes.

Step templates

Web Services Enablement provides these step templates:

• CallRESTService
• CallSOAPService

Steps based on these step templates let you communicate with applications that provide web service interfaces. These steps call web services from any phase within RICOH ProcessDirector workflows.

Authentication

Web Services Enablement input devices and notifications can communicate with web services for applications that require API key or session authentication. They also can communicate with applications that do not require authentication. Input devices authenticate when they poll for input. Notifications authenticate when they send status to the application.

For API key authentication, you put an authorization code in a Static credential property or define an HTTP user ID and password. The object passes the authorization code or the HTTP user ID and password to the web service that exchanges data. The web service then authenticates with the application and returns a response.

For session authentication, you put authentication credentials (user ID and password) and other values in a set of authentication request properties. The input device or notification first calls a REST web service to authenticate with the application. After a successful authentication, the web service returns a token. The input device or notification then transmits the token in the call to the web service that exchanges data.