The extensible services switch in Carnot

The Carnot project for developing a flexible framework for integrating heterogeneous information resources and applications, both within and among organizations, is reviewed. The effective use of such systems requires a way to flexibly and efficiently orchestrate related tasks on far-flung computing systems. A central component of the Carnot project, the extensible services switch (ESS), which provides interpretive access to applications and to communications and information resources at distributed sites, is discussed. The ESS is described as essentially a programmable glue that enhances interoperability by binding software components to one another. >