Describing Service and Request Points
In a service-oriented architecture, communication is based on access points:
• service points
• request points
Service points
An application system, for example, is created to ensure one or more services. These services are represented by service points.
The service is requested according to precise terms defined by a service interface assigned to the service point.
Components activated to assure a service are linked to the service point by service interactions. If it is necessary to activate several components, you have to create several service interactions between the service point and the system components.

In the example presented here, the IT Service ”Customer Management” is activated by the interaction service “Information request”.
Request points
A request point
enables representation of use of a service external to the described entity.
enables representation of use of a service external to the described entity.The service is requested according to precise terms defined by a service interface assigned to the request point.
Components that issue a request are linked to the request point by a service interaction.

In the example, request points represent requests for service executed by the “Email Order Management" IT service to identifier a customer and issue an order.
Creating a Service Point or a Request Point
The process for creating a service point or request point is identical.
To create a service point:
1. In the diagram insert toolbar, click Service Point
.
.2. Position the object at the edge of the frame of the described object.
3. Click the arrow to the right of the Service Interface field to define the service interface enabling activation of this service point, and select, for example, Connect Service interface.
4. Select the service interface associated with this service point and click Connect then Next.
A dialog box opens proposing a list of the service interface roles that can be associated with the service point.
A service interface can be described by involving more than two participants. In this case, a role is consumer of the service interface and the others are providers.
5. Select the role that interests you and click OK.
The service point appears in the diagram.