Middleware (distributed applications)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about distributed applications. For middleware in general, see Middleware.

Middleware in the context of

distributed applications. It includes web servers, application servers, messaging and similar tools that support application development and delivery. Middleware is especially integral to modern information technology based on XML, SOAP, Web services, and service-oriented architecture
.

Middleware often enables

transaction monitors
, and messaging-and-queueing software.

The distinction between operating system and middleware functionality is, to some extent, arbitrary. While core kernel functionality can only be provided by the operating system itself, some functionality previously provided by separately sold middleware is now integrated in operating systems. A typical example is the

TCP/IP
stack for telecommunications, nowadays included virtually in every operating system.

Definitions

Middleware is defined as software that provides a link between separate software applications. It is sometimes referred to as plumbing because it connects two applications and passes data between them. Middleware allows data contained in one database to be accessed through another. This makes it particularly useful for enterprise application integration and data integration tasks.

In more abstract terms, middleware is "The software layer that lies between the operating system and applications on each side of a distributed computing system in a network."[1]

Origins

Middleware is a relatively new addition to the computing landscape. It gained popularity in the 1980s as a solution to the problem of how to link newer applications to older legacy systems, although the term had been in use since 1968.

distributed processing
, the connection of multiple applications to create a larger application, usually over a network.

Use

Middleware services provide a more functional set of

application programming interfaces
to allow an application to:

  • Locate transparently across the network, thus providing interaction with another service or application
  • Filter data to make them friendly usable or public via
    anonymization process
    for privacy protection (for example)
  • Be independent from network services
  • Be reliable and always available
  • Add complementary attributes like semantics

when compared to the operating system and network services.

Middleware offers some unique technological advantages for business and industry. For example, traditional database systems are usually deployed in closed environments where users access the system only via a restricted network or

database management systems (DBMSs) or applications via a web server without regard to database-specific characteristics.[3]

Businesses frequently use middleware applications to link information from departmental databases, such as payroll, sales, and accounting, or databases housed in multiple geographic locations.

laboratory information system (LIS) backup, and to combine systems during hospital mergers. Middleware helps bridge the gap between separate LISs in a newly formed healthcare network following a hospital buyout.[5]

Middleware can help software developers avoid having to write

application programming interfaces
(API) for every control program, by serving as an independent programming interface for their applications. For
telecommunication services.[6] The Middleware stack is devised of several components (CSMS, TV Statistics & Client applications). It is known as the software brains of OTT platforms as it controls and interconnects all the components of the solution. The Content and Subscriber Management System (CSMS) is the central part of the solution commonly referred to as an administration portal. Apart from being the main interface for operator personnel to administer the TV service (Subscribers, Content, Packages, etc.) it also controls the majority of TV services and interacts with streaming & CDN and DRM serves to deliver Live, VOD and recorded content to the end users. It also integrates with external systems for billing, provisioning and with EPG and VOD content providers. Client applications authorize the CSMS and communicate with it, to provide required TV services to the end users on different devices. [7]

Finally, e-commerce uses middleware to assist in handling rapid and secure transactions over many different types of computer environments.[8] In short, middleware has become a critical element across a broad range of industries, thanks to its ability to bring together resources across dissimilar networks or computing platforms.

In 2004 members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) carried out a study of Middleware with respect to system integration in broadcast environments. This involved system design engineering experts from 10 major European broadcasters working over a 12-month period to understand the effect of predominantly software-based products to media production and broadcasting system design techniques. The resulting reports Tech 3300 and Tech 3300s were published and are freely available from the EBU web site.[9][10]

Types

Message-oriented middleware

Message-oriented middleware (MOM) [11] is middleware where transactions or event notifications are delivered between disparate systems or components by way of messages, often via an enterprise messaging system. With MOM, messages sent to the client are collected and stored until they are acted upon, while the client continues with other processing.

Enterprise messaging
An
web services. As part of an enterprise messaging system, message broker
software may queue, duplicate, translate and deliver messages to disparate systems or components in a messaging system.
Enterprise service bus
Web services
".

Intelligent middleware

[13] Intelligent

distributed architecture
which embeds intelligence throughout the network to transform raw data systematically into actionable and relevant knowledge. It can also be packaged with tools to view and manage operations and build advanced network applications most effectively.

Content-centric middleware

Content-centric middleware offers a simple provider-consumer abstraction through which applications can issue requests for uniquely identified content, without worrying about where or how it is obtained. Juno is one example, which allows applications to generate content requests associated with high-level delivery requirements.

Content-centric networking
paradigm.

Remote procedure call
Remote procedure call middleware enables a client to use services running on remote systems. The process can be synchronous or asynchronous.
Object request broker
With object request broker middleware, it is possible for applications to send objects and request services in an object-oriented system.
SQL-oriented data access
SQL-oriented Data Access is middleware between applications and database servers.
Embedded middleware
Embedded middleware provides communication services and software/firmware integration interface that operates between embedded applications, the embedded operating system, and external applications.

Other

Other sources[citation needed] include these additional classifications:

Integration Levels

Data Integration

  • Integration of data resources like files and databases

Cloud Integration

  • Integration between various cloud services

B2B Integration

  • Integration of data resources and partner interfaces

Application Integration

  • Integration of applications managed by a company

Vendors

Message Oriented Middleware
as a service.

See also

References

  1. ^ Krakowiak, Sacha. "What's middleware?". ObjectWeb.org. Archived from the original on 2005-05-07. Retrieved 2005-05-06.
  2. ^ Gall, Nick (July 30, 2005). "Origin of the term '".
  3. ^ Peng, C, Chen, S, Chung, J, Roy-Chowdhury, A, and Srinivasan, V. (1998). Accessing existing business data from the World Wide Web. IBM Systems Journal, 37(1), 115-132. Retrieved March 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 26217517)
  4. ^ Bougettaya, A, Malik, Z, Rezgui, A, and Korff, L. (2006). A Scalable Middleware for Web Databases. Journal of Database Management, 17(4), 20-39,41-46. Retrieved March 7, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1155773301).
  5. ^ Bagwell, H. (2008). Middleware: providing value beyond autoverification Archived 2009-10-12 at the Wayback Machine. IVDT. Retrieved March 3, 2009. .
  6. ^ Kai Oswald Seidler. "MOMENT". Fp7-moment.eu. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  7. ^ Pirtovsek, Nino (September 16, 2021). "Guide to OTT Technology For Network Operators". Uniqcast. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  8. ^ Charles, J. (1999). Middleware moves to the forefront (subscription required). Technology News. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  9. ^ "EBU middleware report Tech 3300" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  10. ^ "EBU middleware reports Tech 3300s" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  11. ISBN 978-0-470-86206-3
  12. ^ "Microsoft on the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB)". August 2005. The ESB label simply implies that a product is some type of integration middleware product that supports both MOM and Web services protocols.
  13. ^ Choosing the Right Middleware Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ Juno Archived 2011-04-26 at the Wayback Machine , Gareth Tyson, A Middleware Approach to Building Content-Centric Applications. PhD Thesis, Lancaster University (2010).
  15. ISBN 978-1586032678
    .
  16. ISBN 978-1602670006
    .

External links

Look up middleware (distributed applications) in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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