Extensible Network Services for Access Grid
This project is working to address the problem of allowing individuals or groups that are using differing collaboration infrastructures to participate in an Access Grid-based session without the need for human intervention. This is being done by adopting a web services-based model that will allow infrastructure to be updated as new components become available without requiring the whole framework to be reworked. This will allow for maximum flexibility of the system while allowing the community to make use of the latest technology as it becomes available. This work is focusing on the development of AG Network Services, which will support the seamless integration of users who differ from the standard Access Grid node definition. More specifically, we plan to develop three new modules: Network Services Engine – added to the Virtual Venue Server, this set of services acts as the principal point of contact between the users as they enter a given venue and the resolution engine, Resolution Engine – matches user capabilities to the services available; it also functions as a Service Registry to the providers of individual network services, and as a repository for the resolution rules that drive the mapping of services to users, and a Network Services User Interface – provides user’s view into the Network Services Framework.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ANI-0222509

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.