Reflection is the essence of cooperation
David Edmond, M. Papazoglou · 1997
The work reported in this chapter uses operational reflection as a means of enabling cooperation between pre-existing and autonomous information sources located at a number of remote sites. Each component database system is encapsulated by a layer of metalevel software that knows about that system's functionality and competence, incorporates basic programmable cooperative processing facilities, and provides access to the enclosed system by means of an abstract program interface, regardless of the underlying system's complexity. 1 Introduction The goal of a dynamic, distributed information network is to enable its component information sources (typically autonomous database systems) to be combined into a coherent and complete application, with each component performing a limited range of useful functions. In such situations, the question of how to combine distributed, pre-existing heterogeneous information sources, such as legacy systems, and applications becomes critical. Early appro...