Integration of QoS-Enabled Distributed Object Computing Middleware for Developing Next-Generation Distributed Applications

Citation: Krishnamurthy Y, Kachroo V, Karr DA, Rodrigues C, Loyall JP, Schantz RE, Schmidt DC. Integration of QoS-Enabled Distributed Object Computing Middleware for Developing Next-Generation Distributed Applications. Proceedings of the ACM SIGPLAN Workshop on Optimization of Middleware and Distributed Systems (OM 2001), June 18, 2001, Snowbird, Utah.

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Abstract Distributed Object Computing (DOC) middleware has evolved tremendously over the past few years. Initially, it facilitated the seamless inter-operation of various applications over a variety of heterogeneous environments. Its growing acceptance has opened its applicability to a broader variety of applications, whose demands are far beyond inter-operability. This is especially true for next-generation applications such as e-commerce, autonomous process control, and global event notification systems.

These advanced applications require a wide range of quality of service (QoS) support, where resources are managed both prior to and during run-time. For example in mission critical telecommunication systems and distributed electronic medical imaging systems, a failure to meet certain deadlines can result in significant loss of property and even life. Therefore, these systems must be analyzed and monitored both off-line and on-line to ensure that resources are properly allocated and

managed. Also, these applications must be able to (1) autonomously reflect upon situational factors as they arise in the run-time environment and (2) adapt to these factors while preserving the integrity of key mission-critical activities.

These requirements have driven R&D efforts in DOC middleware to develop QoS-enabled DOC middleware which simplifies the development of advanced applications that can leverage the advances in networks and end-systems end-to-end. Two major research efforts in this area have been:

Quality Objects (QuO): This is a DOC middleware extension, which supports adaptive QoS specification, measurement, and control.

ACE QoS API (AQoSA): This is a unified QoS API in the Adaptive Communication Environment (ACE) that abstracts various network QoS protocols like RSVP and DiffServ.

This paper describes the integration of the QoS-enabled distributed object computing (DOC) middleware, mentioned above, for developing an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) video disemmination application. The QoS-enabled middleware provides the application the means for monitoring and adapting to system and network resource conditions.