Workshop on Distributed Objects

                Versailles, France, March 8-11, 1993

LOCATION
--------
        The workshop is hosted by the Tools-Europe conference.

        Monday, 8th March 1993
        from 8:30 to 12:30

        Versailles-Palais des Congres
        10 rue de la Chancellerie 78000 Versailles-France

WORKSHOP TOPICS
---------------

Among the many issues that arise in the design of object-based languages for
distributed computing, we propose to address just one : what computational model
should be used in the language.

The active object model (client/server model) has come to be the pre{*filter*} model
in distributed systems but another model called the passive object model (or blackboard
model) might be better.

In the ACTIVE OBJECT MODEL, several server or worker processes are created for and
assigned to each object to handle its invocation requests. Each process is bound and
restricted to the particular object for which it is created. When an object is
destroyed, so are its processes. In the active object model, an operation is not
typically accessed directly by the calling process, as in the case of a traditional
procedure call. Instead, when a client invokes an operation, a process in
the corresponding server object accepts the request and performs the operation on
the client's behalf.

In the PASSIVE OBJECT MODEL, the processes and objects are completely separate
entities. A process is not bound nor is it restricted to a single object. Instead,
a single process is used to perform all the operations required to satisfy an action.
Consequently, a process may execute within several objects during its lifetime.

In this workshop, we would like to study and evaluate the impact of the model in
terms of :
        - naming (object naming, ...)
        - distribution (location transparency, migration)
        - protection
        - security (context isolation, robustness in the face of failures)  
        - granularity of objects (number, size, ...)
        - granularity of sharing (object sharing, context sharing, ...)
        - support for persistence
        - ...

Position papers
---------------
        Position papers based on research work should be written in English.
        They are limited to 5 pages, and include email-address and author's
        address.

SUBMISSION and DEADLINES
------------------------
        One copie of the position paper should be submitted at the following

       {*filter*}or uucompressed and uuencoded postscript

        by January 26, 1993.

        Authors will be notified of acceptance or rejection by February 15, 1993.

Status of participants and registration fees
--------------------------------------------
        Participation in a workshop is free of  charge  for  participants
        registered for the conference. All others must pay a registration
        fee (currently 500  FF  for  TOOLS Europe). Registration includes
        a copy of the material (see below) and lunch.

SUMMARY:
========
        Deadline for papers:    January 26,  1993
        Workshop date:          March 8, 1993

        Address for contacts:   Michel RIVEILL
                                Bull-IMAG / Systemes
                                2, rue de Vignate
                                38610 Gieres

                                Fax: ++33 - 76.54.76.15

-=-=- Michel Riveill -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bull-IMAG / Systemes - 2 rue de Vignate - 38610 Gieres - France

PHONE   +33 - 76.63.48.45
FAX     +33 - 76.54.76.15