Runtime mix'n and match design pattern

Abstract

Ubiquitous computing is becoming reality, vendors are introducing products that support ubiquitous entertainment and media solutions, businesses are adopting service-oriented architectures, and mobile devices are becoming service consumers. To accomodate this foundational change, software needs to be dynamic and adaptable. This work proposes a pattern for resolving the need for dynamic actors by introducing the concepts of Intents, IntentHandlers, IntentFilters and IntentResponders. These four concepts express an abstraction allowing for late dynamic runtime binding to solve functional exigencies. Client software is no longer bound to specific programs, functions or services to solve functional needs; instead they can dynamically bind to IntentResponders to solve their functional exigencies. The pattern may incur a slight performance overhead, but allows for an extendable and dynamic solution.