Reflective middleware for integrating network monitoring with adaptive object messaging

In the future, applications will need to execute in a ubiquitous environment with varying network conditions (connectivity, bandwidth, etc.) and system constraints (e.g., power and storage). The distributed object paradigm is often used to facilitate the development of large-scale distributed applications. However, the traditional object messaging layer operates with limited awareness of underlying system and network conditions, whereas current system and network monitoring tools operate at the network layer with little awareness of application-level object communication requirements. This article explores the possibility, mechanisms and benefits of filling the gap between object messaging and system monitoring. We introduce connection abstraction as the mechanism for these two layers to communicate and exchange information. Through this integration, object messaging can proactively adapt to changing system conditions; system monitoring policies and parameters can be optimized based on interobject communication properties.