Efficient coupling of parallel applications using PAWS

PAWS (Parallel Application WorkSpace) is a software infrastructure for use in connecting separate parallel applications within a component-like model. A central PAWS Controller coordinates the linking of serial or parallel applications across a network to allow them to share parallel data structures such as multidimensional arrays. Applications use the PAWS API to indicate which data structures are to be shared and at what points the data is ready to be sent or received. PAWS implements a general parallel data descriptor and automatically carries out parallel layout remapping when necessary. Connections can be dynamically established and dropped, and can use multiple data transfer pathways between applications. PAWS uses the NEXUS communication library and is independent of the application's parallel communication mechanism.