package org.kuali.rice.ksb.api.bus;

 /**

  * An {@code Endpoint} contains a reference to the {@link ServiceConfiguration}

  * for a service as well as a proxy to the service endpoint that can be invoked.

  * 

  * <p>This service can be cast to the appropriate service interface in order to

  * invoke the desired operations.

  */

 public interface Endpoint {

         /**

          * Returns the service configuration information for this endpoint.

          * 

          * @return the service configuration for this endpoint, should never return null

          */

         ServiceConfiguration getServiceConfiguration();

         /**

          * Returns a reference to the service that can be invoked through this

          * endpoint.  This could potentially be a proxy to the service (in the case

          * that the endpoint is pointing to a remote service) so calling code

          * should cast this object to the appropriate service interface before

          * using.

          * 

          * <p>It is the client's responsibility to ensure that they are casting the

          * service to the correct interface(s) based on their knowledge of what

          * interface the service should implement.

          * 

          * @return a reference to the service object which can be used to invoke

          * operations against the endpoint, should never return null

          */

         Object getService();

 }