TOM: a framework for temporal object management
Kirk A. Dunkelberger · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1992
Although the object oriented programming paradigm is an intuitive embodiment of the static attributes of an application, temporal behavior of object interaction is typically encrypted in the distributed control structure of the implementation. TOM requires a platform-independent operating system support library which permits the arbitrary scheduling of object message passing. Applications include systems which reason through time; the arbitration of distributed, real time competing and cooperating reasoning systems; and the rapid construction of simulators for reasoning system validation. Performance and applicability of the package are currently being evaluated via several tactical command and control development systems. TOM permits the arbitrary allocation of objects between processing platforms, i.e., object allocation need not be known at design time. Message passing is extended through host LANs when necessary to reach remote objects. Three prototype temporal behaviors are provided: single, cyclic, and frequency limited. Scheduled message services are qualified with a user- assigned priority which is used to arbitrate host computing resources. Discussion highlights the seamless integration of temporal activity into the object oriented paradigm and demonstrates the benefits of the package through several diverse example applications.