Extending grid protocols onto the desktop using the Mozilla framework
Karan Bhatia, Daniel Catarino, Brent Stearn · 2006
This paper describes an approach to building problem solving environments that provide users with direct access to remote grid services and protocols from their desktop or laptop. We describe two examples of this approach: Topaz extends the Firefox web browser to support the GridFTP protocol, thereby enabling the user to move large files between server-based data repositories and their primary day-to-day computer; and the Gemstone frontend that allows users to browse the set of services provided by an application provider and enables dynamic integration of the user interface elements. Gemstone is also a framework that allows application service providers to not only specify the service interface, but define the user interface and experience. Both Topaz and Gemstone build upon the Mozilla platform to leverage the current state of the art in web technologies. 1