A distributed object architecture for QoS-sensitive networking

Abstract

The authors describe an architecture, based on the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) for communications support of QoS sensitive networked multimedia applications. This architecture, which is shared by both control and management entities, smoothly integrates real-time QoS oriented communications services such as those offered in the public telephone network, with everyday services of the Internet. A prototype system is presented with a focus on virtual services that facilitate rapid service deployment. A streams service and an N:1 push service are described in detail as examples of virtual services. The system also features, as supporting components, virtual interfaces that pass QoS information in both directions between the network and an end system, and a domain resources manager (DRM) for maintaining network control policies.