| Previous | Table of Contents | Next |
The ORB Interoperability Architecture provides a conceptual framework for defining the elements of interoperability and for
identifying its compliance points. It also characterizes new mechanisms and specifies conventions necessary to achieve interoperability
between independently produced ORBs.
Specifically, the architecture introduces the concepts of immediate and mediated bridging of ORB domains. The Internet Inter-ORB
Protocol (IIOP) forms the common basis for broad-scope mediated bridging. The inter-ORB bridge support can be used to implement
both immediate bridges and to build “half-bridges? to mediated bridge domains.
By use of bridging techniques, ORBs can interoperate without knowing any details of that ORB’s implementation, such as what
particular IPC or protocols (such as ESIOPs) are used to implement the CORBA specification.
The IIOP may be used in bridging two or more ORBs by implementing “half bridges? that communicate using the IIOP. This approach
works for both stand-alone ORBs, and networked ones that use an ESIOP.
The IIOP may also be used to implement an ORB’s internal messaging, if desired. Since ORBs are not required to use the IIOP
internally, the goal of not requiring prior knowledge of each others’ implementation is fully satisfied.