A Component Framework for Document-Centric Network Processing

Abstract

A component framework for defining content-based network processing is presented. It is unique among other existing approaches because it enables contents to naturally define their own processing and end-users to easily define network processing. By using it, we can dynamically make an enriched document as a nested composition of software components corresponding to various content, e.g., text, images, and windows. It enables each component or document to migrate over a network under its own control by using mobile agent technology. Moreover, it introduces components as carriers or forwarders because it enables them to carry or transmit other components as first class objects to other locations. It offers several basic operations for network processing, e.g., forwarding, duplication, and synchronization. It allows end-users to easily define their own content-based or application-specific network processing by assembling these components in through GUI manipulations. This paper describes the framework and its implementation, which currently uses Java as the implementation language as well as a component development language, and then illustrates several interesting applications that demonstrate its utility and flexibility