Last modified: June 26, 2003
Jun Suzuki (jsuzuki@ics.uci.edu)
This document overviews recent activities on our standardization effort being undertaken with various members of the distributed object computing community. We have been contributing several design concepts and mechanisms in the Bio-Networking Architecture into the Object Management Group (OMG).
This document also describes our model-based and modular strategy to design and implement the Bio-Networking Platform with the standardized OMG specification.
We have been primarily working at the Super Distributed Objects DTF (Domain Task Force) in OMG. The idea for OMG SDOs is to provide a standard framework that incorporates networked real-world entities (e.g. devices) and pervasive software components in a uniform object model, deploys (maps) them in highly distributed environments, allows them to seamlessly interwork with each other, and ubiquitously aids users in accomplishing their tasks.
Super distribution means incorporating massive numbers of objects (including hardware devices and software components) beyond centralized control, each of which performs its task autonomously or cooperatively with other objects. Please see the Super Distributed Objects Whitepaper for more details about the characteristics of super distribution.
The OMG Super Distributed Objects DSIG focuses on (1) exploring the characteristics of super distribution (i.e. massive numbers of objects, decentralization, autonomy of objects and cooperation between objects) in distributed object systems in terms of the OMG technologies (CORBA, UML, etc.), and (2) specifying a series of standards to develop super distributed systems by leveraging the existing OMG technologies.
The increasing availability of high-performance and low-cost processor technology is enabling computing power to be embedded densely in various devices (e.g. mobile phones, PDAs and Internet-ready home appliances) as well as traditional computers. Furthermore, emerging networking technologies such as wireless LAN, IPv6, and plug-and-play enabled platforms allow those devices to connect to each other in an easy and ad-hoc manner and to construct a large-scale network of devices that provides various applications. Through these technological advances, much attention is being paid on the area of ubiquitous computing.
Besides the device networking arena, pervasive network connectivity allows for building global software infrastructures for distributed storage and computing. A goal of these infrastructures is to provide a distributed community of software components that pool their services for solving problems, composing applications and sharing information. A unique feature in these infrastructures is that they host a large number of software components that collaborate with each other in a less centralized manner. The peer-to-peer overlay networks, grid computing systems and global storage networks are good examples of these infrastructures.
The framework proposed by the OMG SDO DSIG abstracts the resources such as hardware devices and software components in the above two technological spectrums as Super Distributed Objects (SDOs), because both share very similar goals, assumptions and technical issues such as a large number of distributed resources, ad-hoc application boundary, temporal unavailability of resources, and decentralized organization of resources.
An SDO is a logical representation of a resource (hardware device or software component) that provides well-defined functionalities and services. Examples of SDOs include abstractions of devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, and home appliances (e.g. TV set, refrigerator and light switch), but are not limited to device abstractions. An SDO may abstract a software component and act as a peer in a peer-to-peer overlay network.
Today, there are a lot of resource interconnection technologies such as Universal Plug and Play, HAVi, OSGi, ECHONET, Jini, JXTA, Globus and Sun ONE Grid Engine. They are, however, restricted to specific platforms, network protocols and programming languages, or they focus on limited application domains. No common model-based standards exist to handle various resources in a unified manner independently of underlying technologies and application domains. One of the key goals in the OMG SDO DSIG is the the transition and abstraction of those resource interconnection technologies into a higher layer with OMG technologies (e.g. UML and CORBA).
After established in 2000, the SDO DSIG has been actively working in OMG. The group published a Request for Information (RFI) for collecting standardization interests and relevant information from the industry and academic communities. The SDO DSIG gathered ten responses to the RFI, including UCI's response. Based on the responses, the group published the SDO white paper, which The first RFP published (Jan. 02). The initial proposals submitted (Sept. 02) The revised joint proposal was submitted and adopted (March 2003). by Hitachi, GMD Fokus and UCI ?gPIM and PSM of SDOs?h cgi.omg.org/cgi-bin/doc?dtc/03-04-02 defines resource data model for SDOs and a set of interfaces to access and manipulate the SDO resource data. terminologies issues key concepts The objectives of this specification are to abstract the existing resource interconnection technologies into a higher layer, define their information and computational models in the layer, and make objects defined the models interoperable. SDOs abstract the underlying heterogeneous technologies used to implement and operate resources (hardware devices and a software components)
Incorporating these characteristics in distributed object systems requires to address the issues, such as ad-hoc interactions between objects and temporary unavailability of objects, and the idea like peer-to-peer computing.design concepts invited talks
Back to the project top page
Back to the bionet platform page
Network Research Group
School of Information and Computer Science
University of California, Irvine