Showing papers on "Middleware published in 1996"
Patent•
12 Jul 1996
TL;DR: A software-based computer security enhancing process and graphical software-authenticity method, and a method to apply aspects of the two are disclosed as discussed by the authors, which provides protection against certain attacks on executable software by persons or other software used on the computer.
Abstract: A software-based computer security enhancing process and graphical software-authenticity method, and a method to apply aspects of the two are disclosed. The process provides protection against certain attacks on executable software by persons or other software used on the computer. Software using this process is protected against eavesdropping (the monitoring of software, applications, the operating system, disks, keyboard, or other devices to record (steal) identification, authentication or sensitive data such as passwords, User-ID's, credit-card number and expiry dates, bank account and PIN numbers, smart-card data, biometric information (for example: the data comprising a retina or fingerprint scan), or encryption keys), local and remote tampering (altering software to remove, disable, or compromise security features of the altered software) examination (viewing the executable program, usually with the intent of devising security attacks upon it), tracing (observing the operating of an executable program step-by-step), and spoofing (substituting counterfeit software to emulate the interface of authentic software in order to subvert security) by rogues (e.g.: Trojan Horses, Hackers, Viruses, Terminate-and-stay-resident programs, co-resident software, multi-threaded operating system processes, Worms, Spoof programs, key-press password captures, macro recorders, sniffers, and other software or subversions). Aspects include executable encryption, obfuscation, anti-tracing, anti-tamper and self-verification, runtime self-monitoring, and audiovisual authentication (math, encryption, and graphics based method permitting users to immediately recognise the authenticity and integrity of software). The figure in the specification depicts the many components and their interaction.
450 citations
28 Aug 1996
TL;DR: The goal in precisely pinpointing the sources of overhead for communication middleware is to develop scalable and flexible CORBA implementations that can deliver gigabit data rates to applications.
Abstract: Conventional implementations of communication middleware (such as CORBA and traditional RPC toolkits) incur considerable over-head when used for performance-sensitive applications over high-speed networks. As gigabit networks become pervasive, inefficient middleware will force programmers to use lower-level mechanisms to achieve the necessary transfer rates. This is a serious problem for mission/life-critical applications (such as satellite surveillance and medical imaging).This paper compares the performance of several widely used communication middleware mechanisms on a high-speed ATM network. The middleware ranged from lower-level mechanisms (such as socket-based C interfaces and C++ wrappers for sockets) to higher-level mechanisms (such as RPC, hand-optimized RPC and two implementations of CORBA - Orbix and ORBeline). These measurements reveal that the lower-level C and C++ implementations outperform the CORBA implementations significantly (the best CORBA throughput for remote transfer was roughly 75 to 80 percent of the best C/C++ throughput for sending scalar data types and only around 33 percent for sending structs containing binary fields), and the hand-optimized RPC code performs slightly better than the CORBA implementations. Our goal in precisely pinpointing the sources of overhead for communication middleware is to develop scalable and flexible CORBA implementations that can deliver gigabit data rates to applications.
162 citations
TL;DR: The implementation of a prototype binding architecture called xbind is described as a middleware toolkit for building open programmable ATM networks and the initial experiences with experimenting and deploying xbind over an ATM testbed are presented.
Abstract: A conceptual framework, called the binding model, for the creation, deployment and management of multimedia services on ATM-based broadband networks with end-to-end quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees is presented. The key function of the associated binding architecture is to provide an open programmable environment that facilitates the easy creation of flexible services. We describe the implementation of a prototype binding architecture called xbind as a middleware toolkit for building open programmable ATM networks. Finally, we present our initial experiences with experimenting and deploying xbind over an ATM testbed and highlight some of the lessons learned.
123 citations
Patent•
29 Nov 1996TL;DR: An application integrator as discussed by the authors is a configuration system that provides a user with a view of the software applications' name space and graphically represents user-determined associations between data units from each software application.
Abstract: An application integrator that provides a user-interactive environment for integrating software applications having incompatible programming interfaces, such as production control and business enterprise systems The application integrator generally comprises a configuration system that provides a user with a view of the software applications' name space and graphically represents user-determined associations between data units from each of the software applications The graphical association represents a user-defined programmed interface, identifying which data units of the software applications to transfer and under what circumstances such transfers should occur This information is stored by the configuration system in a configuration repository A data server contains two distributed communication objects, each of which interfaces with a corresponding software application, and a mapping engine The mapping automatically transfer data units between the two software applications in a transaction-oriented manner and in accordance with the user's preferences as specified in the configuration repository
72 citations
18 Nov 1996
TL;DR: Mowgli WWW, a WWW middleware implementation, exploits several new techniques to solve problems in wide-area mobile networks and is also profitable in fixed networks when slow or high-latency communication links are involved.
Abstract: Today the World-Wide Web is the most widely used distributed application. By utilising the data services of cellular telephone systems such as the digital GSM, WWW can be brought to nomadic users. However, the characteristics of cellular telephone links differ greatly from wire-line links. The narrow bandwidth, highly variable transmission delays, and sudden disconnections create problems for many Internet applications. WWW uses the HTTP and TCP/IP protocols, which exhibit a number of usability and performance problems in wide-area mobile networks. Mowgli WWW, a WWW middleware implementation, exploits several new techniques to solve these problems. Although Mowgli WWW was initially designed for a wireless WAN environment, the techniques are also profitable in fixed networks when slow or high-latency communication links are involved.
47 citations
Patent•
30 Dec 1996
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a middleware for data having a primary access location and having a secondary access location in a computing system, where the application requests for the data having the primary and secondary access locations.
Abstract: A computing system according to the present invention includes data having a primary access location in the system and having a secondary access location in the system. The system also includes a computer running an application, where the application requests for the data having the primary and secondary access locations. In response to the application requesting the data, middleware on the computer determines whether the requested data is at the primary access location. If the data is at the primary access location, the middleware retrieves the requested data from the primary access location and sends the requested data to the application. In response to the data not being found at the primary access location, the middleware retrieves the data from the secondary access location. The middleware then sends the requested data to the application and stores a copy of the requested data at the primary access location. The middleware is implemented as software.
23 citations
12 Aug 1996
TL;DR: The design and preliminary implementation of MpPVM, a software system that supports process migration for PVM application programs in a non-dedicated heterogeneous computing environment, and new concepts of migration point as well as migration point analysis and necessary data analysis are introduced.
Abstract: This paper presents the design and preliminary implementation of MpPVM, a software system that supports process migration for PVM application programs in a non-dedicated heterogeneous computing environment. New concepts of migration point as well as migration point analysis and necessary data analysis are introduced. A preliminary implementation of MpPVM and its experimental results are also presented, showing the correctness and promising performance of our process migration mechanism in the scalable non-dedicated heterogeneous computing environment.
20 citations
10 Jun 1996
TL;DR: This work examines the problem of applying ATM technology in designing distributed industrial plant control applications with integrated real-time communication requirements, and presents a taxonomy of the algorithms available to implement the service categories that can provide performance guarantees.
Abstract: Considers the problem of applying ATM technology in designing distributed industrial plant control applications with integrated real-time communication requirements. In particular, we first examine (1) the design space using current ATM service categories and their corresponding traffic models, and (2) the mathematical and practical implications of the traffic models. We then present a taxonomy of the algorithms available to implement the service categories that can provide performance guarantees. Through the examination, we shed light on the gap between what is usually assumed in research and what the actual ATM network will provide. We then show how real-time communication can be mapped onto ATM service categories and demonstrate the limitations of ATM services. Finally, we describe the concept of user-level multiplexing as a means to overcome the limitations.
20 citations
TL;DR: This article presents an enhanced application programming interface based on the well-known BSD Sockets paradigm that facilitates the introduction of new communication service functions and simplifies use and learning.
Abstract: This article presents an enhanced application programming interface based on the well-known BSD Sockets paradigm. The major modifications made during the redesign of Sockets are as follows: using an object-oriented design that facilitates the introduction of new communication service functions and simplifies use and learning; using a new generic communication model that supports a wide range of traditional and advanced communication services such as OSI, Internet, ISDN, and ATM services; using an abstract message-passing concept to transfer service data across the interface which enables operating systems to apply copy-avoiding mechanisms; supporting multipoint communications and enabling applications to distinguish different data streams; supporting direct forwarding of incoming data streams to outgoing streams to yield better performance; avoiding platform dependencies so as to reduce modification costs when porting applications.
17 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the implementation of the RFID middleware system that is not only compatible with EPCglobal ALE (Application Level Events) specification but also provides various types of RFID readers spanning from passive readers to active readers.
Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) middleware is a new breed of software system which facilitates data communication between automatic identification equipments like RFID readers and enterprise applications. It provides a distributed environment to process the data coming from tags, filter and then deliver it to a variety of backend applications via various communication protocols including web services. In this paper, we demonstrate the implementation of the RFID middleware system that is not only compatible with EPCglobal ALE (Application Level Events) specification but also provides various types of RFID readers spanning from passive readers to active readers. Overall functional components of the middleware software as well as the system framework are illustrated.
16 citations
16 Nov 1996
TL;DR: A software development toolkit named ADAM (Adaptive Distributed Applications Manager) which creates operational distributed applications which are created according to the network, machines and software constraints, and are updated in reply to dynamic environment changes.
Abstract: We propose a software development toolkit named ADAM (Adaptive Distributed Applications Manager) which creates operational distributed applications To increase the performances of these distributed applications, they are created according to the network, machines and software constraints, and are updated in reply to dynamic environment changes Using a graphical interface, the user provides functional specifications of the distributed application he wants to build ADAM finds out a structural scheme of this application It adds missing software components (like data transformation software for example) in order to create an effective distributed application and selects available software components located on various machines and sites, subject to varying machine performances and different inter site distances In a second step, the scheme is transformed into a distributed application
26 Feb 1996
TL;DR: This paper describes a prototype system developed at Hewlett-Packard that provides a service for configuring large SONET networks and employs the HP OpenPM (Open Process Management) workflow system to define, execute and monitor network management processes.
Abstract: SONET (Synchronous Optical NETwork) has been proposed as the backbone of future information superhighway infrastructure. SONET network management, however, is a complex process that involves many heterogeneous systems and applications, as well as human interactions. In this paper, we describe a prototype system developed at Hewlett-Packard (HP) that provides a service for configuring large SONET networks. The prototype differs from the existing systems in that it employs the HP OpenPM (Open Process Management) workflow system to define, execute and monitor network management processes. Using OpenPM (a middleware service that enables the automation of activities supporting complex enterprise business processes in a distributed heterogeneous computing environment) as a reliable and efficient workflow execution engine, this prototype supports efficient distributed network management and easy integration of legacy applications. The paper describes how an example network configuration management process is modeled, executed and monitored using OpenPM.
Patent•
27 Sep 1996
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report the processing process/state of another station node to a present station node by transmitting control information while setting it with data, and executing the definition program and the procedure code of processing at the transmission destination node.
Abstract: PURPOSE: To report the processing process/state of another station node to a present station node by transmitting control information while setting it with data, and executing the definition program and the procedure code of processing at the transmission destination node. CONSTITUTION: A control part 22 analyzes a received packet while using a packet analytic program 22a, performs access to a communication processing part 21 and a control/data storage part 24 by preparing the processing definition program and acquisition/updates information. At the same time, the generation, abolishment, demultiplexing and multiplexing of an active packet are performed. Function for processing the content analysis, generation, abolishment, demultiplexing and multiplexing, etc., of the active packet are supported by an application, inter-OS layer and middleware between OS and respective layers and defined as an interface between the respective layers so that difference in a physical medium or OS can be hidden. An information processing part 23 performs desired information processing by accessing the storage part 24 according to information processing programs 23a-23n.
20 May 1996
TL;DR: A middleware consisting of reusable SWFT components which provides SWFT services and establishes a well-defined interface with the application modules will allow the application developer to focus solely on the application complexity.
Abstract: Experience has shown that the current software engineering practice is inadequate for producing error-free software. Thus, software fault tolerance (SWFT) must be employed in developing complex safety-critical applications. However, developing applications which are capable of tolerating software errors is a challenging task because the developers have to conquer not only the complexity of the application but also the complexity of fault-tolerance protocols. A middleware which provides SWFT services and establishes a well-defined interface with the application modules will allow the application developer to focus solely on the application complexity. This paper presents such a middleware consisting of reusable SWFT components. It also explores the way these components interface with the application in order to tolerate faults in the application. The paper also reports our experience on using real-time and object-oriented features of the new standard of Ada (Ada95) for implementing the middleware.
3 Jan 1996
TL;DR: The paper discusses a new area of research on software maintenance, focusing on the issue of whether and to what extent the emerging technology of distributed computer operating environments directly affects software maintenance.
Abstract: Historically, the largest single life cycle computer system cost has been for maintaining information system software. More recently, the computing world has begun to undergo a significant transformation from centralized computer architectures to non-centralized or distributed computer architectures. The paper discusses a new area of research on software maintenance (and development in general), focusing on the issue of whether and to what extent the emerging technology of distributed computer operating environments directly affects software maintenance. Based on trade journal articles, the issue appears to depend on two diametrics of information system architectures: component simplicity and system complexity. The smaller (but more numerous) the system components, the easier they are to deal with individually (i.e., lower software maintenance costs) but the more difficult it is to deal with the overall system (i.e., higher software maintenance costs). This research was based on a new conceptual model for information systems complexity based on component number and variety, interaction number and variety and the overall rate of change. By applying this complexity model to distributed computing environments, this research sought empirical data from to determine whether the complexity of a distributed computer system has a greater effect on software maintenance than component simplicity, and what the related explanatory factors are.
TL;DR: It is shown how the OpenLabs architecture specification can be translated into an Interface Definition Language (IDL) of a 'middleware' product which can then be compiled for implementation on a distributed system.
Patent•
18 Oct 1996
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors propose an automatic management system for file transfer which can automatically transfer command information, operation information, etc., between a host computer and a server-client system.
Abstract: PURPOSE: To provide an automatic management system for file transfer which can automatically transfer command information, operation information, etc., between a host computer and a server-client system. CONSTITUTION: A command and a procedure for remote processing which are inputted from the management terminal 14 of a host computer are registered temporarily in a command definition file 20 and then distributed to all servers 8 by file transfer type middleware 34 through communication software 74 and a communication line 7. On each server 8, file transfer type middleware 35 receives the command and procedure and registers them in a command definition file 15. Further, machine operation information which is inputted from the management terminal of the server 8 is registered in a machine operation file 22 on the host computer 1 from the machine operation file 23 of the server 8 in the same route as the route, and displayed on the screen of the management terminal 14 at the time of file transfer execution, so that the operation state of the server 8 can be checked.
7 May 1996
TL;DR: A new development in "middleware" that provides an interface for developers and is an intermediary for innovative application development tools to insulate both the application developer and tool developer from platform issues while facilitating high-performance execution of applications.
Abstract: Developing software applications for scalable, heterogeneous platforms is a highly specialized, time consuming task. This paper discusses a new development in "middleware" that provides an interface for developers and is an intermediary for innovative application development tools. A component software approach insulates both the application developer and tool developer from platform issues while facilitating high-performance execution of applications. Central to the development is a new open application framework that uses an application configuration language based on the well-known Tool Command Language (Tcl), written by John Ousterhout. Adoption of the framework by advanced tools potentially offers a dramatic programming productivity gain over existing practices.
14 Oct 1996
TL;DR: This paper model the Trader using coloured Petri nets and the Design/CPN/sup TM/ tool, and verification of the model using simulation and occurrence graph analysis is presented.
Abstract: As middleware and networking technologies improve, heterogenous distributed systems are expected to become commonplace. An object-based approach to designing these systems has been adopted by ISO and ITU-T in their standardisation of the reference model for open distributed processing. An important infrastructure object within these systems is the recently standardised Trader which provides objects with a dynamic resource location service. In order to engineer reliable open object-based distributed systems, it is important to perform modelling and analysis as part of the design process. In this paper, we model the Trader using coloured Petri nets and the Design/CPN/sup TM/ tool. The model is described, and verification of the model using simulation and occurrence graph analysis is presented.
Proceedings Article•
12 Nov 1996TL;DR: This paper introduces the design and management of a transport middleware service suitable for broadband applications and examines a case study that shows how management information is used to control the transportmiddleware service and assist in fault and accounting management.
Abstract: Multimedia applications using broadband networking technologies (for example, Asynchronous Transfer Mode) often require services not provided by standard transport layer middleware, such as TCP or TP4 A broadband transport service must provide support for QoS (quality of service) control, multiparty control, synchronization, packet sequence reconstruction, and direct data-link access Management of a broadband transport service also plays an important role For example, management information can be used to control parallelism in cases of excessive session delay This paper introduces the design and management of a transport middleware service suitable for broadband applications We examine a case study that shows how management information is used to control the transport middleware service and assist in fault and accounting management
1 Nov 1996
TL;DR: The results of the prototyping phase carried out for the following of these elements are presented: the front end processor; middleware, and the graphical user interface.
Abstract: Satellite telemetry processing onboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is carried out using dedicated software and hardware The current ground system is expensive to operate and maintain The mandate to reduce satellite ground system operations and maintenance costs by the year 2000 led NASA to upgrade the command and control systems in order to improve the data processing capabilities, reduce operator experience levels and increase system standardization As a result, a command and control system product development team was formed to redesign and develop the HST ground system The command and control system ground system development consists of six elements The results of the prototyping phase carried out for the following of these elements are presented: the front end processor; middleware, and the graphical user interface
5 May 1996
TL;DR: A peer-to-peer connection oriented mode protocol for multimedia data transfer is designed and implemented in developing the Group Communications on Advanced Network (GiANT) application which supports a computer supported cooperative work (CSCW).
Abstract: We designed and implemented a peer-to-peer connection oriented mode protocol for multimedia data transfer in developing the Group Communications on Advanced Network (GiANT) application which supports a computer supported cooperative work (CSCW). We describe the Multimedia Communications Forum (MMCF) general reference architecture model and the functions of the transport domain. We also define service primitives, transfer protocols, and the user interface for the peer-to-peer connection oriented mode protocol. We test the protocol operations by transferring digital video data which is a core technical component of multimedia applications in real time. The protocol is operated correctly to establish and release the connection, and to transfer data.
15 Apr 1996
TL;DR: Next generation computing architectures will consist of an combination of heterogeneous hardware and software platforms, automatically and transparently interoperating, which brings with it many problems especially with the trade-offs between the preservation of previous investment and the phasing out of legacy systems.
Abstract: Next generation computing architectures will consist of an combination of heterogeneous hardware and software platforms, automatically and transparently interoperating This vision brings with it many problems especially with the trade-offs between the preservation of previous investment and the phasing out of legacy systems The physical complexities of interconnectivity are being overcome through use of middleware Middleware systems, the adhesive binding components in distributed environments, are rapidly evolving into more flexible, robust and usable systems Nevertheless, tools to alleviate logical complexity (the conceptual interconnection of many differing systems) are lagging behind
20 May 1996
TL;DR: A new object-oriented mechanism to manage shared data in distributed software development with following features: it is possible to dynamically select available actions based on a variety of situations.
Abstract: In this paper, we propose a new object-oriented mechanism to manage shared data in distributed software development with following features.
1.
Workspace Manager Object and Artifact Object manage the range of responsibility for a software engineer's task and control data sharing.
2.
Autonomous Mediator Object supports negotiation relevant to the modification of shared data and coordination for the negotiation.
3.
Each object has a meta-object. By the mechanism, it is possible to dynamically select available actions based on a variety of situations.
19 Aug 1996
TL;DR: The Visual and General User Interface for Database Environments (VGUIDE) is an integrated environment for developing and running distributed information systems based on the client/server model that involves an integrated middleware environment, various client/ server models, and flexible application control mechanisms.
Abstract: The Visual and General User Interface for Database Environments (VGUIDE) is an integrated environment for developing and running distributed information systems based on the client/server model. Its main features are: (1) fourth-generation language (4GL) for developing database applications that reduce system development costs. (2) a real-time control monitor that can be scaled from small systems to heavily loaded large systems, and (3) 4GL application programs that can be ported among multi-vendor machines and operating systems. First, we give a technical overview of VGUIDE for developing distributed information systems. This involves an integrated middleware environment, various client/server models, and flexible application control mechanisms. Next, the performance of VGUIDE is examined. then, actual examples with VGUIDE are explained. Also, the effectiveness of VGUIDE is discussed.
NEC1
TL;DR: The integrated platform enables application developers to develop multimedia application systems supporting both groupware and video-on-demand functions, and provides both real time and stored video naturally synchronized with audio to the group users simultaneously.
Abstract: A multimedia integration trial for groupware with video-on-demand is described. The integration is realized by association of a groupware server with a video-on-demand server using a video service bridge. The integrated platform enables application developers to develop multimedia application systems supporting both groupware and video-on-demand functions, and provides both real time and stored video naturally synchronized with audio to the group users simultaneously. One particularly interesting example of the platform's possibilities is an automobile sales support system developed on the platform which enables the users to share video images of a running car over an ATM network.
TL;DR: This paper identifies the major problems that make the task of achieving high software quality hard to accomplish, then suggests possible functionality that is advisable for the system infrastructure to provide.
1 Jan 1996
TL;DR: A number of tools are proposed which can support the process in each of the three main stages and which allow a further precision and structure of various steps, thereby leading to an improvement of the decisions that need to be made.
Abstract: In earlier work we presented a structured process for the development of large-scale parallel applications and a supporting underlying formal framework which is based on a DAG-like structure extended with data- and control-dependences. The applicability of this process strongly relies on the manageability of the diverse steps which, for this reason, concentrate each on one development aspect only. This paper proposes a number of tools which can support the process in each of the three main stages and which allow a further precision and structure of various steps, thereby leading to an improvement of the decisions that need to be made. It also discusses subsequent improvements on the process which become feasible by the proposed software support and explains how this will eventually lead to an interactive software support for the entire process.