A service grammar can be defined in Backus Naur Form for a protocol. The service grammar can be compiled into a service analyzer, which can identify services from a trace of messages sent using the protocol. Similarly, a workflow grammar can be defined for services implemented using the protocol (a meta-grammar). The workflow grammar can be compiled into a workflow analyzer, which can identify workflows from the services (and therefore, indirectly from the trace). This workflow information can be used to define actions for a User Agent (UA) that can act on behalf of a person. The UA can be validated using the service analyzer and workflow analyzer to verify that the UA is acting correctly.