TSpaces is rated

What is TSpaces?

TSpaces is a set of network communication buffers called tuple spaces and a set of APIs (and classes that implement the API) for accessing those buffers. TSpaces allows heterogeneous, Java-enabled devices to exchange data with little programming effort. The package includes server software that implements the buffers and client software for accessing the buffers.

TSpaces provides group communication services, database services, URL-based file transfer services, and event notification services. With its small footprint, it is ideal for bringing network services to small and embedded systems; for example, it brings the power of the network to palm devices, making them full-fledged network computers capable of controlling printers and other networked devices.

For the client, being connected to TSpaces is like having the perfect assistant: TSpaces acts as a reminder service, carries out any tasks that you assign to it, reports incoming messages and delivers outgoing messages, and notifies you of any events in which you're interested. By adding additional client applications, TSpaces can be used as a universal print service, email service, pager service, remote control service, and so on.

How does it work?

TSpaces has many advantages over other technologies, including the following:

• Data is de-coupled from programs. Data can outlive its producer (because once it's produced, it lives in tuple space) and can be produced before the receiver exists.
• Communication is anonymous. The sender needn't know about the receiver, and vice-versa. Sender and receiver only need to know about tuple space, which mediates all communication.
• Communication is asynchronous. The sender and receiver don't have to rendezvous to communicate; the producer produces when it's ready, and the consumer consumes when it's ready.

Since it is written in Java, TSpace client applications can be loaded dynamically into any network-attached computer. The TSpaces package comes with several useful applications that show how to build TSpace clients.

For further information about TSpaces, please consult the HTML documentation included with the downloaded files or see the online documentation.

For inquiries regarding commercial licensing of TSpaces, please e-mail Leigh Cagan, Manager of the Business Development Department of Almaden Research Center.

The following researchers contributed to TSpaces:

• Tobin J. Lehman (team leader)
• Matthias Eichstaedt
• Daniel A. Ford
• Stephen W. McLaughry
• John G. Thomas
• Peter Wyckoff