An Application of Name Based Addressing to Low Level Distributed Algorithms

An interprocess communication structure for a distributed language is described which provides message level communication, multicast, and a generalized naming facility. The design is oriented to the needs of low level algorithms which, for example, might be used in a distributed operating system to support resource allocation or enhance reliability. The proposal is illustrated by programming several distributed algorithms from the literature. An implementation is described that takes advantage of physical multicast technology, and reduces to more conventional schemes for common communication paradigms.