The communication Middleware for Collaborative Learning Object Repository Network

Candidate: Ty Mey Eap
Type: Master of Science (MSc), School of Interactive Arts and Technology
Date: July 20, 2006
Senior Supervisor: Dr. Marek Hatala
Thesis: Download Thesis Document

Abstract

The current Web Services (WS) technologies are not tolerant to change. The research on WS composition encourages granular definitions of well-defined WS to be used as the building blocks of a complex service. Some flexibility can be achieved through the execution control or semantic composition engines of WS based on the outcome of the prior granular service execution. However, the technology still needs well-defined services, which is a constraint to an evolving environment. This thesis argues that message-based communication middleware infrastructure can provide stability to evolving collaborative networks. We support our claim through the design and implementation of the eduSource Communication Layer (ECL). We demonstrate how XML-based messaging provides great advantages for the design of a flexible and adaptive communication infrastructure for learning object repository networks. Next, we provide a comparative analysis of ECL with other approaches and finally provide guidelines for the future development of the communication infrastructure.