Question 19/VII - Framework for support of distributed applications
(new Question)

Considering

(a) that CCITT has standardized a number of distributed applications,
for example, message handling systems and directory systems;

(b) that further distributed applications are likely to be standardized;

(c) that in the course of standardizing message handling systems and
directory systems, there has been a need to develop mechanisms and
techniques that are likely to be of general utility, including ASN.1,
ROS, security abstract service definition conventions, etc.;

(d) that mechanisms and techniques likely to be of general utility are
best provided in a way that is common to many distributed applications,
rather than each distributed application providing its own specific,
different solution;

(e) that ISO/IEC are defining standards for open distributed processing,
security and distributed office architecture;

(f) that CCITT and ISO/IEC have standardized and are standardizing sets
of formal description techniques;

(g) that CCITT has developed Recommendation X.407 that describes
abstract services, notations and conventions;

(h) that the study of this Question is intended to be a collaborative
effort with ISO/IEC;

(i) that close liaison is necessary with the new Questions on OSI
reference model and application layer structure,

1.Architectural framework

1.1 What general purpose architectural framework can be defined for the
design and support of distributed applications?

1.2 What structuring principles (e.g. object oriented parodigms) and
general properties need to be defined, examined and applied to the
definition and development of this framework?

1.3 What notational, descriptive and specification-related tools and
techniques need to be used and/or developed to define and support this
framework?

1.4 How does the OSI reference model relate to this new framework; what
impact does this framework have on that model?

2.Security framework

2.1 What security framework(s) and security model(s) can be used and/or
defined for distributed applications and data communications in general?

2.2 What security mechanisms (e.g. access control, authentication,
notarization, digital signatures, etc.) and security management
principles and techniques can be used and/or developed to define and
support this framework?

3. What tools, mechanisms and protocols of general use can be utilized
and/or developed to support distributed (and secure) applications?

4. What changes or enhancements, if any, should be made to ROS (X.219,
X.229) to define and support this framework?

5. What changes or enhancements, if any, should be made to RTS (X.218,
X.228)?

6. What changes or enhancements, if any, should be made to ASN.1 (X.208,
X.209) to define and support this framework?

7. What changes or enhancements should be made to X.407 to define and
support this framework?