Specification of an object to object protocol in Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1)

Object-oriented languages and environments have opened up a new way to develop software. Unfortunately, object-to-object transmittal of control and data has been highly indigenous to its particular domain; whether it be a compiler, interpreter or database. The DARPA Initiative for Concurrent Engineering (DICE) has specified a DICE Communications Channel (DCC) in which a heterogeneous environment, including object-oriented databases and subsystems, has driven the requirement for an integration scheme between disjunct entities. Another DICE formalism, known as the Part, Process and Organization (PPO) database, has served as the locus of integration between the various environments that require access to it. This paper will address an application-specific problem encountered in the first two phases of the DICE program, regarding the integration of heterogeneous object-oriented environments. Using the PPO database as a case study, a basic application and presentation layer specification of an object-to-object protocol (OOP) will be formalized using the ISO Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) protocol definition.