subject: Principles and Functions of Middleware [print this page] Principles and Functions of Middleware Principles and Functions of Middleware
Computer technology continues to progress as newer ways of sharing information or data are being discovered. The main goal of this advancement is to create a faster and wider platform of data exchange between systems in order to facilitate computer-based production processes. Such a leap can help different forms of industries triple or quadruple their output because of easier communication. Traditionally, computer-based actions are possible only in a common operating system.
Information sharing between two databases is simple if they are designed with the same operating system. However, a certain computer-based production process requires multiple forms of operating systems that make the tasks complicated, since information sharing is not possible between different systems. The data exchange is very limited in this type of intranet or restricted network. The only way is to design a plumbing layout connecting different systems, to make the exchange possible without reformatting the application.
Middleware is the latest technology invented primarily to connect different operating systems to do integrated tasks and meet one goal. This is a device used to share software applications of different formats to dissimilar systems, making communication possible. In other words, this is a bridge that transforms intranet or restricted network to Internet, surpassing the limitations of operating systems.
This technology is mostly used today in the telecommunication industry. Mobile phones, for example, such as those made by Blackberry, are now geared with operating systems that can connect to a middleware-based network like the Internet to upload, install, and use system software in various ways. Middleware allows a user to have access to a software application provided by a server, provided that the user has an operating license such as the Blackberry server license.
Some software applications are stored in a central server, which users can only access in a restricted operating system of mobile phones using middleware. Many mobile phone users buy Blackberry enterprise server to make sharing software applications between the server and the phone's operating system and between phones possible. A user can run the application under a limited license period.
Messaging systems for mobile phones often use sets of encoding rules like Extensible Markup Language (XML), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), and Web services to facilitate messaging between dissimilar systems. Experts recommend mobile phone users to buy Blackberry enterprise server to experience this new technology.
