The quality of service (QoS) binding model

Introduces the concepts and components of TINA and CORBA which are related to QoS and binding. We then introduce certain points of QoS concerns. These points represent specialized flow behaviour to show the causality chain of QoS control operations to be instantiated during binding. Elements of the binding procedure and the points of QoS concerns are represented by a suggested modelling notation extending TINA's ODL (Object Definition Language). A QoS-extended binding model has been elaborated by augmenting the binding concepts of the ODP (Open Distributed Processing) framework with the QoS points of concern, which comprise the declaration of continuous stream behaviour at end-points, observations, conformance, control, steering and negotiation. The suitability of the extended binding model has been validated by several examples, e.g. the specification of a video system which is bound by an ATM network. The QoS binding model provides a way of mapping QoS from an application level to the component and networking levels. The application level is where the objects of the application community are grouped and their interfaces are contracted. The negotiated QoS characteristics are mapped to the component level by the binding process which instantiates components accordingly. Hence, QoS mapping is part of the extended binding model. For example, the potential QoS of an ATM network, as it might be required by a video user, must be mapped to the observation and conformance points at the interface between the end user and the network access point.