A service platform for distributed applications

The paper presents the main rationales and design concepts for an architecture and service platform for the development of distributed applications in a cooperative open environment. This environment can be characterised as a 'service market' where various services are offered at different costs and with different qualities. Suitable servers must be selected from a large, varying number of components residing at different locations and belonging to a variety of organisations. In the architecture four planes are identified and the solutions adopted for each plane are described.<
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