Showing papers on "Service (systems architecture) published in 2006"

Researching Internet‐Based Populations: Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Survey Research, Online Questionnaire Authoring Software Packages, and Web Survey Services

Abstract: This article examines some advantages and disadvantages of conducting online survey research. It explores current features, issues, pricing, and limitations associated with products and services, such as online questionnaire features and services to facilitate the online survey process, such as those offered by web survey businesses. The review shows that current online survey products and services can vary considerably in terms of available features, consumer costs, and limitations. It is concluded that online survey researchers should conduct a careful assessment of their research goals, research timeline, and financial situation before choosing a specific product or service.

Service-Oriented Architecture: Concepts, Technology, and Design

Abstract: "Service Oriented Architecture is a hot, but often misunderstood topic in IT today. Thomas articulately describes the concepts, specifications, and standards behind service orientation and Web Services. For enterprises adopting SOA, there is detailed advice for service-oriented analysis, planning, and design. This book is a must read!"i¾–Alex Lynch, Principal Consultant, Microsoft Enterprise Services"One primary objective of applying SOA in design is to provide business value to the solutions we build. Understanding the right approach to analyzing, designing, and developing service-oriented solutions is critical. Thomas has done a great job of demystifying SOA in practical terms with his book."i¾–Rick Weaver, IBM Senior Consulting Certified SW I/T Specialist"A pragmatic guide to SOA principles, strategy, and best practices that distills the hype into a general framework for approaching SOA adoption in complex enterprise environments." i¾–Sameer Tyagi, Senior Staff Engineer, Sun Microsystems"A very timely and much needed contribution to a rapidly emerging field. Through clarifying the principles and nuances of this space, the author provides a comprehensive treatment of critical key aspects of SOA from analysis and planning to standards ranging from WS-specifications to BPEL. I'll be recommending this book to both clients and peers who are planning on embracing SOA principles."i¾–Ravi Palepu, Senior Field Architect, Rogue Wave Software"Finally, an SOA book based on real implementation experience in production environments. Too many SOA books get lost in the technical details of Web Services standards, or simply repeat vendor hype. This book covers the really hard parts: the complex process of planning, designing and implementing service-oriented architectures that meet organizational goals. It is an essential companion to any software developer, architect, or project manager implementingi¾–or thinking about implementingi¾–a service-oriented architecture." i¾–Priscilla Walmsley, Managing Director of Datypic"Thomas Erl's Service-Oriented Architecture: Concepts, Technology, and Design is as good an introduction to service-oriented architectures as one could wish for. In a single volume, it covers the entire topic, from theory to real-world use to technical details. The examples are superb and the writing is wonderfully clear." i¾–Ronald Bourret, Author, "XML and Databases""Finally an SOA book which gets to the point with real world answers and examples. Erl guides you on a real world SOA journey. From architecture design to industry standards, this book is well written and can be easily referenced for everyday use. When embarking on your own service orientated adventures, this is the book you want in your bag." i¾–Clark Sell, Vice President, CSell Incorporated"Organizations struggling to evolve existing service-oriented solutions beyond simple Web Services now have an expert resource available. Leading the way to the true service-oriented enterprise, Thomas Erl demystifies the complexities of the open WS-I standards with detailed practical discussions and case studies. Erl's depth and clarity makes this work a superb complement to his Field Guide." i¾–Kevin P. Davis, PhD., Software Architect"This book is an excellent guide for architects, developers, and managers who are already working with or are considering developing Web Services or Service-Oriented Architecture solutions. The book is divided into four sections. In the first section the fundamental technologies of XML, Web Services and Service-Oriented Architectures are described in detail with attention given to emerging standards. The book is well written and very thorough in its coverage of the subject. I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in enterprise level service architectures."i¾–Adam Hocek, President and CTO, Broadstrokes, Inc.Additional praise quotes are published at: www.soabooks.com/reviews.aspThe foremost "how-to" guide to SOAService-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is at the heart of a revolutionary computing platform that is being adopted world-wide and has earned the support of every major software provider. In Service-Oriented Architecture: Concepts, Technology, and Design, Thomas Erl presents the first end-to-end tutorial that provides step-by-step instructions for modeling and designing service-oriented solutions from the ground up.Erl uses more than 125 case study examples and over 300 diagrams to illuminate the most important facets of building SOA platforms: goals, obstacles, concepts, technologies, standards, delivery strategies, and processes for analysis and design.His book's broad coverage includes Detailed step-by-step processes for service-oriented analysis and service-oriented design An in-depth exploration of service-orientation as a distinct design paradigm, including a comparison to object-orientation A comprehensive study of SOA support in .NET and J2EE development and runtime platforms Descriptions of over a dozen key Web services technologies and WS-* specifications, including explanations of how they interrelate and how they are positioned within SOA The use of "In Plain English" sections, which describe complex concepts through non-technical analogies Guidelines for service-oriented business modeling and the creation of specialized service abstraction layers A study contrasting past architectures with SOA and reviewing current industry influences Project planning and the comparison of different SOA delivery strategies The goal of this book is to help you attain a solid understanding of what constitutes contemporary SOA along with step-by-step guidance for realizing its successful implementation.About the Web SitesErl's Service-Oriented Architecture books are supported by two Web sites. http://www.soabooks.com provides a variety of content resources and http://www.soaspecs.com supplies a descriptive portal to referenced specifications. i¾ © Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Reference Model for Service Oriented Architecture 1.0

Abstract: This Reference Model for Service Oriented Architecture is an abstract framework for understanding significant entities and relationships between them within a serviceoriented environment, and for the development of consistent standards or specifications supporting that environment. It is based on unifying concepts of SOA and may be used by architects developing specific service oriented architectures or in training and explaining SOA. A reference model is not directly tied to any standards, technologies or other concrete implementation details. It does seek to provide a common semantics that can be used unambiguously across and between different implementations. The relationship between the Reference Model and particular architectures, technologies and other aspects of SOA is illustrated in Figure 1. While service-orientation may be a popular concept found in a broad variety of applications, this reference model focuses on the field of software architecture. The concepts and relationships described may apply to other "service" environments; however, this specification makes no attempt to completely account for use outside of the software domain.

Network-Based Marketing: Identifying Likely Adopters via Consumer

Abstract: Network-based marketing refers to a collection of marketing techniques that take advantage of links between consumers to increase sales. We concentrate on the consumer networks formed using direct interactions (e.g., communications) between consumers. We survey the diverse literature on such marketing with an emphasis on the statis- tical methods used and the data to which these methods have been applied. We also provide a discussion of challenges and opportunities for this burgeoning research topic. Our survey highlights a gap in the literature. Because of inadequate data, prior studies have not been able to provide direct, statistical support for the hypothesis that network linkage can directly affect product/service adoption. Using a new data set that represents the adoption of a new telecommunications service, we show very strong support for the hypothesis. Specifically, we show three main results: (1) "Network neighbors"—those consumers linked to a prior customer—adopt the service at a rate 3-5 times greater than baseline groups selected by the best practices of the firm's marketing team. In addition, analyzing the network allows the firm to acquire new customers who otherwise would have fallen through the cracks, because they would not have been identified based on traditional attributes. (2) Statistical models, built with a very large amount of geographic, de- mographic and prior purchase data, are significantly and substantially improved by including network information. (3) More detailed network information allows the ranking of the network neighbors so as to permit the selection of small sets of individuals with very high probabilities of adoption.

Network-Based Marketing: Identifying Likely Adopters Via Consumer Networks

Abstract: Network-based marketing refers to a collection of marketing techniques that take advantage of links between consumers to increase sales. We concentrate on the consumer networks formed using direct interactions (e.g., communications) between consumers. We survey the diverse literature on such marketing with an emphasis on the statistical methods used and the data to which these methods have been applied. We also provide a discussion of challenges and opportunities for this burgeoning research topic. Our survey highlights a gap in the literature. Because of inadequate data, prior studies have not been able to provide direct, statistical support for the hypothesis that network linkage can directly affect product/service adoption. Using a new data set that represents the adoption of a new telecommunications service, we show very strong support for the hypothesis. Specifically, we show three main results: (1) “Network neighbors”—those consumers linked to a prior customer—adopt the service at a rate 3–5 times greater than baseline groups selected by the best practices of the firm’s marketing team. In addition, analyzing the network allows the firm to acquire new customers who otherwise would have fallen through the cracks, because they would not have been identified based on traditional attributes. (2) Statistical models, built with a very large amount of geographic, demographic and prior purchase data, are significantly and substantially improved by including network information. (3) More detailed network information allows the ranking of the network neighbors so as to permit the selection of small sets of individuals with very high probabilities of adoption.

Service-oriented design and development methodology

Abstract: Service Oriented Architectures (SOA) are rapidly emerging as the premier integration and architectural approach in contemporary, complex, heterogeneous computing environments. SOA is not simply about deploying software: it also requires that organisations evaluate their business models, come up with service-oriented analysis and design techniques, deployment and support plans, and carefully evaluate partner/customer/supplier relationships. Since SOA is based on open standards and is frequently realised using Web Services (WS), developing meaningful WS and business process specifications is an important requirement for SOA applications that leverage WS. Designers and developers cannot be expected to oversee a complex service-oriented development project without relying on a sound design and development methodology. This paper provides an overview of the methods and techniques used in service-oriented design and development. The aim of this paper is to examine a service development methodology from the point of view of both service producers and requesters and review the range of elements in this methodology that are available to them.

ARMAR-III: An Integrated Humanoid Platform for Sensory-Motor Control

Abstract: In this paper, we present a new humanoid robot currently being developed for applications in human-centered environments In order for humanoid robots to enter human-centered environments, it is indispensable to equip them with manipulative, perceptive and communicative skills necessary for real-time interaction with the environment and humans The goal of our work is to provide reliable and highly integrated humanoid platforms which on the one hand allow the implementation and tests of various research activities and on the other hand the realization of service tasks in a household scenario We introduce the different subsystems of the robot We present the kinematics, sensors, and the hardware and software architecture We propose a hierarchically organized architecture and introduce the mapping of the functional features in this architecture into hardware and software modules We also describe different skills related to real-time object localization and motor control, which have been realized and integrated into the entire control architecture

DecSerFlow: towards a truly declarative service flow language

Abstract: The need for process support in the context of web services has triggered the development of many languages, systems, and standards. Industry has been developing software solutions and proposing standards such as BPEL, while researchers have been advocating the use of formal methods such as Petri nets and π-calculus. The languages developed for service flows, i.e., process specification languages for web services, have adopted many concepts from classical workflow management systems. As a result, these languages are rather procedural and this does not fit well with the autonomous nature of services. Therefore, we propose DecSerFlow as a Declarative Service Flow Language. DecSerFlow can be used to specify, enact, and monitor service flows. The language is extendible (i.e., constructs can be added without changing the engine or semantical basis) and can be used to enforce or to check the conformance of service flows. Although the language has an appealing graphical representation, it is grounded in temporal logic.

Dogear: Social bookmarking in the enterprise

Abstract: We describe a social bookmarking service de-signed for a large enterprise. We discuss design principles addressing online identity, privacy, information discovery (including search and pivot browsing), and service extensi-bility based on a web-friendly architectural style. In addi-tion we describe the key design features of our implementa-tion. We provide the results of an eight week field trial of this enterprise social bookmarking service, including a de-scription of user activities, based on log file analysis. We share the results of a user survey focused on the benefits of the service. The feedback from the user trial, comprising survey results, log file analysis and informal communica-tions, is quite positive and suggests several promising en-hancements to the service. Finally, we discuss potential extension and integration of social bookmarking services with other corporate collaborative applications.

Using architecture models for runtime adaptability

Abstract: Every software system has architecture. The architecture strongly influences the software system's properties, including maintainability and runtime properties such as performance and reliability. By describing the architecture in models, we can make the architecture explicit. Developers typically use software architecture models at design time to capture the significant decisions about a software system's organization and to describe and establish a common understanding about the system's abstract properties. In the MADAM (mobility- and adaptation-enabling middleware) project, we aim to facilitate adaptive application development for mobile computing. We follow an architecture-centric approach where we represent architecture models at runtime to allow generic middleware components to reason about and control adaptation.

DecSerFlow: Towards a Truly Declarative Service Flow Language

Abstract: The need for process support in the context of web services has triggered the development of many languages, systems, and standards. Industry has been developing software solutions and proposing standards such as BPEL, while researchers have been advocating the use of formal methods such as Petri nets and pi-calculus. The languages developed for service flows, i.e., process specification languages for web services, have adopted many concepts from classical workflow management systems. As a result, these languages are rather procedural and this does not fit well with the autonomous nature of services. Therefore, we propose DecSerFlow as a Declarative Service Flow Language. DecSerFlow can be used to specify, enact, and monitor service flows. The language is extendible (i.e., constructs can be added without changing the engine or semantical basis) and can be used to enforce or to check the conformance of service flows. Although the language has an appealing graphical representation, it is grounded in temporal logic.

Collaborative logistics management and the role of third‐party service providers

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to derive and verify a collaborative framework that specifies the role of different parties in contemporary logistics setups. Methodology/Approach – To prepare this paper, a study of the logistics literature has been conducted together with several case studies. The empirical evidence has been collected in Europe as well as in the US. Different aspects of collaboration between organizations in logistics setups have been studied where the services and the activities have been analyzed to understand the characteristics of the role of third-party service providers. Findings – The results from the work cluster the different third-party service providers in three different groups: Carriers, Logistics Service Providers and Logistics Service Intermediaries. All of these parties have different roles and provide various services in outsourced logistics setups. A Collaborative Logistics Management (CLM) model has been derived that embraces the role of the different parties, the information and material flows between them, the interface attributes and the information systems architecture. In this paper, a focus is mainly on the part of the model that reveals the role of the third-party service providers. Practical implications – The practical implications of the work has its foundation in that activities, performed by two parties, can be adapted to each other so that their combined efficiency is improved. The CLM model can be applied when designing and negotiating third-party services for specific logistics assignments. Originality/value – The paper offers a model of logistics collaboration between the different parties in contemporary, outsourced logistics setups.

Method and apparatus for internet on-line insurance policy service

Abstract: An Internet on-line insurance policy service system that facilitates real-time automated communication of policy information, adjustment of policy parameters, calculation and communication of resulting policy quotes, and implementation of policy changes, while obviating insurer personnel involvement and supervision of the communication. The system comprises a plurality of software modules relating to on-line real-time communication of existing policy information, testing of a wide range of variations in policy parameters, computing and communicating changes in policy premiums that would result from such variations, communicating desired changes in policy parameters and implementing desired policy changes. Other modules relate to communication of claims information and the providing of on-line forms.

Advanced triggers for location-based service applications in a wireless location system

Abstract: Method and systems are employed by a wireless location system (WLS) for locating a wireless device operating in a geographic area served by a wireless communications system. An exemplary method includes monitoring a set of signaling links of the wireless communications system, and detecting at least one predefined signaling transaction occurring on at least one of the predefined signaling links. Then, in response to the detection of the at least one predefined network transaction, at least one predefined location service is triggered.

Testing services and service-centric systems: challenges and opportunities

Abstract: This paper provides users and system integrators with an overview of service-oriented architecture (SOA) testing's fundamental technical issues and solutions, focusing on Web services as a practical implementation of the SOA model. The paper discusses SOA testing across two dimensions: testing perspectives, wherein various stakeholders have different needs and raise different testing requirements; and testing level, wherein each SOA testing level poses unique challenges

SENSORIA process calculi for service-oriented computing

Abstract: The IST-FET Integrated Project SENSORIA aims at developing a novel comprehensive approach to the engineering of service-oriented software systems where foundational theories, techniques and methods are fully integrated in a pragmatic software engineering approach. Process calculi and logical methods serve as the main mathematical basis of the SENSORIA approach. In this paper we give first a short overview of SENSORIA and then focus on process calculi for service-oriented computing. The Service Centered Calculus SCC is a general purpose calculus which enriches traditional process calculi with an explicit notion of session; the Service Oriented Computing Kernel SOCK is inspired by the Web services protocol stack and consists of three layers for service description, service engines, and the service network; Performance Evaluation Process Algebra (PEPA) is an expressive formal language for modelling distributed systems which we use for quantitative analysis of services. The calculi and the analysis techniques are illustrated by a case study in the area of distributed e-learning systems.

Developing New Forms of Partnership With the `Market¿ in the Procurement of Public Services

Abstract: This article provides a conceptual framework for understanding the key differences between newly emerging ‘market’ relationships and more traditional forms of procurement by public sector organizations. It highlights how multiple relationships between service clients in the public sector and other stakeholders mean that service clients may often co-produce welfare changes in their communities in ways which professional and commercial providers cannot easily control and may not fully understand. It highlights the very different nature of collaborations which affect single commissioners and contractors (relational contracting), multiple commissioning bodies with a unified procurement policy (partnership procurement) and multiple commissioning bodies with diverse procurement policies empowered by a single purchasing body (distributed commissioning). The article suggests that traditional conceptions of the ‘market’ and of ‘market management’ are now outdated and need to be revised to take into account the potential of collaborative relationships between multiple stakeholders in the public domain.

Method and architecture to support interaction between a host computer and remote devices

Abstract: A method and architecture for enabling interaction between a remote device and a host computer. A service provided by the remote device is discovered, and a description pertaining to the service is retrieved by the host computer. A network communication link is the established between the remote device and the host computer based on connection information provided by the description. Host-side and client-side software service modules are run on the host and remote devices to enable interaction between the devices using a service protocol that is specific to the service. Various service protocols are provided, including a display service protocol and an input service protocol. Using commands provided by each protocol, the host computer is enabled to control the service remotely by pushing data and appropriate commands to the remote device, whereupon these commands are processed by the client-side service module to perform service operations that employ the sent data.

Sharing networked resources with brokered leases

Abstract: This paper presents the design and implementation of Shirako, a system for on-demand leasing of shared networked resources. Shirako is a prototype of a service-oriented architecture for resource providers and consumers to negotiate access to resources over time, arbitrated by brokers. It is based on a general lease abstraction: a lease represents a contract for some quantity of a typed resource over an interval of time. Resource types have attributes that define their performance behavior and degree of isolation. Shirako decouples fundamental leasing mechanisms from resource allocation policies and the details of managing a specific resource or service. It offers an extensible interface for custom resource management policies and new resource types. We show how Shirako enables applications to lease groups of resources across multiple autonomous sites, adapt to the dynamics of resource competition and changing load, and guide configuration and deployment. Experiments with the prototype quantify the costs and scalability of the leasing mechanisms, and the impact of lease terms on fidelity and adaptation.

Investigating Spatial Relationships in Human-Robot Interaction

Abstract: Co-presence and embodied interaction are two fundamental characteristics of the command and control situation for service robots. This paper presents a study of spatial distances and orientation of a robot with respect to a human user in an experimental setting. Relevant concepts of spatiality from social interaction studies are introduced and related to Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). A Wizard-of-Oz study quantifies the observed spatial distances and spatial formations encountered. However, it is claimed that a simplistic parameterization and measurement of spatial interaction misses the dynamic character and might be counter-productive in the design of socially appropriate robots.

Method and system for reducing service interruptions to mobile communication devices

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring context information associated with a wireless communication entity for determining a potential occurrence of a network disruption for that wireless communication entity. Upon determining a potential occurrence of a network disruption, causing an adjustment of bandwidth available for data transfer involving the wireless communication entity. The adjustment is used to prevent or mitigate service disruptions.

Semantic WS-agreement partner selection

Abstract: In a dynamic service oriented environment it is desirable for service consumers and providers to offer and obtain guarantees regarding their capabilities and requirements. WS-Agreement defines a language and protocol for establishing agreements between two parties. The agreements are complex and expressive to the extent that the manual matching of these agreements would be expensive both in time and resources. It is essential to develop a method for matching agreements automatically. This work presents the framework and implementation of an innovative tool for the matching providers and consumers based on WS-Agreements. The approach utilizes Semantic Web technologies to achieve rich and accurate matches. A key feature is the novel and flexible approach for achieving user personalized matches.

Dynamic resource matching system

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing resource and/or location-based matching services between a wireless terminal (e.g., mobile phone) user and one or more resources. A novel infrastructure supports resource and/or location based matching services over a wireless network. A back-end system includes a database, server, and match engine that are configured match a user with one or more resources based on the user's characteristics, preferences, and/or location. Such resources include (1) other users, (2) targeted advertising, (3) businesses/networking opportunities, and/or (4) locate a nearby service or store. A flexible database architecture supports application-specific resources which facilitate the deployment of various matching services. Application developers are thus able to implement different resource-matching applications for wireless devices through a common back-end infrastructure. Additionally, the match engine may include a feedback mechanism that permits the match engine to learn a user's preferences.

Utility-based Intelligent Network Selection in Beyond 3G Systems

Abstract: Development in wireless access technologies and multihomed personal user devices is driving the way towards a heterogeneous wireless access network environment. Success in this arena will be reliant on the ability to offer an enhanced user experience. Users will plan to take advantage of the competition and always connect to the network which can best service their preferences for the current application. They will rely on intelligent network selection decision strategies to aid them in their choice. The contribution of this paper is to propose an intelligent utility-based strategy for network selection in this multi-access network scenario. A number of utility functions are examined which explore different user attitudes to risk for money and delay preferences related to their current application. For example we show that risk takers who are willing to pay more money get a better service.

Let's Dance: A Language for Service Behavior Modeling

Abstract: In Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs), software systems are decomposed into independent units, namely services, that interact with one another through message exchanges. To promote reuse and evolvability, these interactions are explicitly described right from the early phases of the development lifecycle. Up to now, emphasis has been placed on capturing structural aspects of service interactions. Gradually though, the description of behavioral dependencies between service interactions is gaining increasing attention as a means to push forward the SOA vision. This paper deals with the description of these behavioral dependencies during the analysis and design phases. The paper outlines a set of requirements that a language for modeling service interactions at this level should fulfill, and proposes a language whose design is driven by these requirements.

SATIRE: a software architecture for smart AtTIRE

Abstract: Personal instrumentation and monitoring services that collect and archive the physical activities of a user have recently been introduced for various medical, personal, safety, and entertainment purposes. A general software architecture is needed to support different categories of such monitoring services. This paper presents a software architecture, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of SATIRE, a wearable personal monitoring service transparently embedded in user garments. SATIRE records the owner's activity and location for subsequent automated uploading and archiving. The personal archive can later be searched for particular events to answer questions regarding past and present user activity, location, and behavior patterns. A short feasibility and usage study of a prototype based on MicaZ motes provides a proof of concept for the SATIRE architecture.

Let's dance: a language for service behavior modeling

Abstract: In Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs), software systems are decomposed into independent units, namely services, that interact with one another through message exchanges To promote reuse and evolvability, these interactions are explicitly described right from the early phases of the development lifecycle Up to now, emphasis has been placed on capturing structural aspects of service interactions Gradually though, the description of behavioral dependencies between service interactions is gaining increasing attention as a means to push forward the SOA vision This paper deals with the description of these behavioral dependencies during the analysis and design phases The paper outlines a set of requirements that a language for modeling service interactions at this level should fulfill, and proposes a language whose design is driven by these requirements.

Command and control in emergency services operations: a social network analysis

Abstract: There is increasing interest in the use of social network analysis as a tool to study the performance of teams and organizations. In this paper, processes of command and control in the emergency services are explored from the perspective of social network theory. We report a set of network analyses (comprising visualization, a selection of mathematical metrics, and a discussion of procedures) based on the observation of six emergency service incidents: three fire service operations involving the treatment of hazardous chemicals, and three police operations involving immediate response to emergency calls. The findings are discussed in terms of our attempts to categorize the network structures against a set of extant command and control network archetypes and the relationship between those structures; comments on the qualities the networks display are put into the contexts of the incidents reported. We suggest that social network analysis may have a valuable part to play in the general study of command and control.

OASIS: anycast for any service

Abstract: Global anycast, an important building block for many distributed services, faces several challenging requirements. First, anycast response must be fast and accurate. Second, the anycast system must minimize probing to reduce the risk of abuse complaints. Third, the system must scale to many services and provide high availability. Finally, and most importantly, such a system must integrate seamlessly with unmodified client applications. In short, when a new client makes an anycast query for a service, the anycast system must ideally return an accurate reply without performing any probing at all. This paper presents OASIS, a distributed anycast system that addresses these challenges. Since OASIS is shared across many application services, it amortizes deployment and network measurement costs; yet to facilitate sharing, OASIS has to maintain network locality information in an application-independent way. OASIS achieves these goals by mapping different portions of the Internet in advance (based on IP prefixes) to the geographic coordinates of the nearest known landmark. Measurements from a preliminary deployment show that OASIS, surprisingly, provides a significant improvement in the performance that clients experience over state-of-the-art on-demand probing and coordinate systems, while incurring much less network overhead.

System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Internet Tool

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for an interface for receiving a user input and a user selection signal and for concurrently supporting a set of service templates; and a specification compiling system communicable to a network supporting the network resource for combining the user input with a user-specified service template selected from the set of service templates responsive to the user selection signal to produce the resource access specification.