Dissemination-Based Information Systems.
Michael J. M. Franklin, Stanley B. Zdonik · 1996
This paper examines the construction of distributed information systems that incorporate the ability to push data out to clients (i.e., dissemination) in addition to having clients pull data from servers. One key issue that distinguishes such dissemination-based information systems (DBIS) from more traditional ones is communications asymmetry. Asymmetry arises in many new applications due to both physical characteristics such as network bandwidths, as well as to workload characteristics. We outline a number of different data delivery mechanisms, and then focus on one particular dissemination mechanism that we have developed, called Broadcast Disks. Finally, we discuss issues that arise in the design of a DBIS architecture that can provide many different modes of data delivery. 1 Introduction Ongoing advances in communications including the proliferation of the Internet and intranets, the development of mobile and wireless networks, and the impending availability of high bandwidth link...