As business relies less on "fortress" style central computers and more on distributed systems, the risk of disruption increases because of inadequate physical security, support services, and site monitoring. This article discusses information security and why protection is required on the Internet, presents a best practice firewall, and…

Defines anonymous distributed computing systems and focuses on the specifics of a Java, applet-based approach for large-scale, anonymous, distributed computing on the Internet. Explains the possibility of a large number of computers participating in a single computation and describes a test of the functionality of the system. (Author/LRW)

Presents WebShaman, an application built to demonstrate how a distributed virtual prototyping system with a client/server architecture, could support geographically distant designer/customer communication. Provides an overview of smart virtual prototyping; discusses implementation of synchronous collaboration via the World Wide Web; and assesses…

Discussion of the need to filter and retrieval relevant information from the Internet focuses on the use of mobile agents, specific software components which are based on distributed artificial intelligence and integrated systems. Surveys agent technology and discusses the agent building package used to develop two applications using IBM's Aglet…

Discusses the architecture of a global hypermedia information and communication system designed to operate through the Internet that is being developed at the Graz University of Technology (Austria). Topics addressed include clients and servers; distributed hypertext; link server protocol; document cache servers; and applications of the global…

Describes a system for using the World Wide Web to distribute computational tasks to multiple hosts on the Web that is written in Java programming language. Describes the programs written to carry out the load distribution, the structure of a "distriblet" class, and experiences in using this system. (Author/LRW)

In peer-to-peer systems, the lack of dedicated links between constituent computers presents a major challenge. Discusses the problems of distributed database operation with reference to an example. Presents two statistical selection algorithms-one for the intranet with broadcast/multicast facilities, the other for Internet without…

Proposes the use of a special purpose drop-in firewall/VPN gateway called Sieve, that can be inserted between the mobile workstation and the network to provide individualized security services for that particular station. Discusses features and advantages of the system and demonstrates how Sieve was used in various application areas such as at…

Explains and evaluates the conceptual and technical aspects of INTERFYS, an Internet-based system for making the review and revision processes in distributed editorial work more efficient by applying the concepts of workflow management using Web technologies only. Discusses systems architecture, management of editorial workflows, and functions of…

Explains that a corporate Web application is a corporate information system that uses World Wide Web technology to provide access to a variety of corporate information resources for internal and external users in geographically distributed locations. Top-down development is explained, and design requirements are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Presents a network design and development plan for a flexible, distributed client-server network of resource sharing libraries in Illinois. The plan's development in phases, design constraints and alternatives, migration strategy, and components are explained. Application of the model to other statewide or regional networks is suggested. (Contains…

Presents a framework for enhancing trust in Internet commerce. Shows how trust can be provided through a network of Trust Service Providers (TSp). Identifies a set of services that should be offered by a TSp. Presents a distributed object-oriented implementation of trust services using CORBA, JAVA and XML. (Author/AEF)

Presents the design and implementation of a reliable multipeer protocol (RMPP), which is written in Java and is suitable for applications in the area of distributed virtual environments (DVEs). Discusses motivation, protocol classification, design goals and the error recovery algorithm and lists implementation issues. Presents two possible…