Objective Within the office and communications environments there is a trend towards multivendor systems with distributed computing power. By its very nature information and the associated input/output resources are distributed on different nodes and accessed by many users from a variety of terminal devices. It is this complex picture which motivated the CSA consortium to investigate how such systems could be constructed and managed in a consistent manner. The team was convinced that major benefits could be realised if a consistent platform could be provided for application systems irrespective of whether the underlying resources were single system/single vendor or distributed over multivendor systems. The overall aim of the project was to specify and design an architecture that provides an environment consistent with the above objectives. In order to achieve this the following architectural requirements were identified: -abstraction from heterogeneity of different hardware and operating systems, thus providing portability -abstraction from distribution, thus providing location-transparent communication -support for communication with non-CSA systems The five-year project was organised into two major phases: -Identification of the needs for communication by analysis of user requirements, followed by development of the architectural specification (years 1 and 2). -Development of a prototype system based on currently available technology using appropriate standards and existing communication networks, followed by the demonstration of distributed applications on top of this system (years 3, 4 and 5). Within the office and communications environments there is a trend towards multivendor systems with distributed computing power. By its very nature information and the associated input/output resources are distributed on different nodes and accessed by many users from a variety of terminal devices. This complex picture motivated the investigation into how such systems could be constructed and managed in a consistent manner.The overall strategic architecture was defined and based on an object oriented approach for structuring the problems associated with the office and communications environments. The architecture provided integrated techniques for managing resources and handling communication between entities. A prototype machine was demonstrated in September 1988. It incorporated those features required to provide abstraction from the underlying hardware and operating system of a single machine. A prototype system consisted of a number of these machines, and illustrated the architectural features that support abstraction from distribution.The overall strategic architecture was defined in December 1986. It is based on an object-oriented approach for structuring the problems associated with the office and communications environments. The architecture provides integrated techniques for managing resources and handling communication between entities. A prototype machine was demonstrated in September 1988. It incorporated those features required to provide abstraction from the underlying hardware and operating system of a single machine. A prototype system demonstrated at the 1989 ESPRIT Conference exhibition consisted of a number of these machines, and illustrated the architectural features that support abstraction from distribution. Some distributed applications were implemented and demonstrated as well. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssystem softwareoperating systems Programme(s) FP1-ESPRIT 1 - European programme (EEC) for research and development in information technologies (ESPRIT), 1984-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator Roke Manor Research Ltd EU contribution No data Address Roke Manor Old Salisbury Lane SO51 0ZN Romsey United Kingdom See on map Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ITK Informations-Technologie Kiel GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address Holzkoppelweg 5 24118 Kiel See on map Total cost No data MARI Applied Technologies Ltd United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Boldon Business Park Witney Way NE35 9PE Boldon See on map Total cost No data SYNERGIE INFORMATIQUE & DEVELOPPEMENT France EU contribution No data Address 102 BOULEVARD MALESHERBES 75017 PARIS See on map Total cost No data VALVO BAUELEMENTE PHILIPS GMBH Germany EU contribution No data Address VOGT-KÖLLN-STRAßE 2000 HAMBURG See on map Total cost No data