The data network: a distributed object view of dynamic data management

The paper builds on the premise that the emerging distributed object infrastructure will logically evolve into a flexible, dynamic data management environment based on a combination of distributed objects, data services and data self-organisation. In order to fulfil this goal, the distributed object community should draw upon the experience accumulated over the years by database researchers and offer its own long-term vision of distributed data processing. The proposed approach is called dispersed data management to emphasise the fact that the conventional, large information sources are divided into smaller, more manageable data entities that are dynamically distributed across computer networks. If that happens it may well be possible to replace the traditional database systems by general, powerful data management architectures based on common data services.