The network-memory in a global distributed processing system

The authors present two scenarios of a target data processing/communication architecture that alleviate the main identified bottlenecks and pave the way towards a global distributed system supporting multimedia-based applications. The proposed processing/communication paradigm is based on the shared-memory capabilities offered by the optical network. A new structure, referred to as the network-memory, is introduced and used as a building block in the system architecture. There is a need to reconsider the roles played by the network in this new environment, as well as the notion of end-system. Possible solutions for the network-memory and for the end-system architecture are given, and related issues are analyzed.<>