Efficient object-oriented execution strategies for parallel computers

In the traditional object-oriented languages, the object stands for basic entity with attributes (representing data structures) and methods (services that can be provided by the object). Nevertheless an important part of the object that concerns its behavior is still to be defined precisely. The behavior can he defined as rules for the use of methods such as priority, sequentiality and concurrency. What we propose is to define control objects, managing the object behavior. An important aspect of this approach is the separation of concerns of mechanisms and policies, one of the fundamental principles of open systems. We begin with discussing the idea of control objects during the system development life-cycle using object-oriented software engineering (OOSE) described by Jacobson (see Addison-Wesley, 1992). We then extend the model and discuss the importance of control objects in capturing the behavior of a group of associated objects to perform a task. Encapsulating synchronization and concurrency constraints in control objects which provides the basis for parallel execution is also discussed.