A document-centric processing paradigm for collaborative computing

Classic models of distributed processing assume documents to be passive objects, sent to remote recipients as messages, or downloaded from remote sites as files. The paper introduces a concept of documents being implemented as active objects that can migrate from the originating host to remote sites, and interact there with local users. Upon completing their mission, documents return to the originating host with a resulting content to be archived or processed further. Such a document-centric computing paradigm, involving documents implemented as mobile and interactive agents with embedded functionality, is more flexible and usable for knowledge based organizations than data-centric computing, with functionality hard-wired in individual processing nodes. This is particularly important for collaborative computing systems, where human and artificial agents render and use services interchangeably. Moreover, it stimulates mobility of users, as it reduces the need for them to stay on-line during the entire computation process and allows for using less sophisticated personal devices. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.