Object--oriented (OO) technology is an integral part of computer communications and multimedia service provisioning. Covering all areas related to OO programming in telecommunications applications, this book offers both theoretical and practical aspects of OO technology.

Preface. Contributors. Acronyms and Abbreviations. PART I: The Need for Advanced Software Technologies in Telecommunication Networks. Chapter 1: Networks and Telecommunications Software Evolution (G. Mamais, A. Papadakis, M. Perdikeas, I. Venieris.) 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 A Unifying Perspective of Networking Technologies. 1.3 Telecommunication Networks Technologies. 1.4 Internet Software Technologies. References. Chapter 2: Future Trends in Telecommunications Software Technologies (F. Chatzipapadopoulos, M. Perdikeas, I. Venieris). 2.1 Software in Telecommunication Environments. 2.2 The Role of Services in Telecommunications. 2.3 The Role of Services in Computer Networks. 2.4 Relative Pros and Cons of the Telecommunication Networks Approach. 2.5 Historical Practices that Underpinned Differentiation. 2.6 An Academic Perspective. 2.7 Computer Networks Revised. 2.8 Telecommunications Revised. 2.9 Future Trends and Enabling Technologies. References. PART II: Enabling Software Technologies. Chapter 3: Object Oriented Design Methodologies (G. Mamais, M. Perdikeas, I. Venieris). 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 General Principles of Object Orientation. 3.3 Object Oriented Methodologies. 3.4 Object Oriented Approaches in Telecommunications Software. 3.5 Network Management and Service Engineering. References. Chapter 4: Distributed Object Technology (S. Choy, G. De Zen, O. Pyrovolakis). 4.1 General Principles. 4.2 Distributed Object Architectures. 4.3 Distributed Object Technology in Telecommunications. References. Chapter 5: Machine Independent Code (F. Chatzipapadopoulos, M. Perdikeas, I. Venieris). 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Java. 5.3 Scripting Languages. 5.4 The Standard for Coding Multimedia Presentations - MHEG. References. Chapter 6: Agents (T. Magedanz, M. Perdikeas, I. Venieris). 6.1 General Principles of Software Agents. 6.2 Agent Standards. 6.3 Mobile Agent Platforms. 6.4 Mobile Agents in Telecommunications. References. PART III: Case Study: Distributed Intelligent Broadband Network. Chapter 7: Evolution towards a Distributed Intelligent Broadband Network (T. Magedanz, I. Venieris, F. Zizza). 7.1 Basic Intelligent Network Principles. 7.2 Intelligent Broadband Network. 7.3 Distributed Intelligent Broadband Network. 7.4 Need for Interworking with Conventional IN/B-IN. 7.5 Overview of Part III. References. Chapter 8: Architecture of the Distributed Intelligent Broadband Network (M. Breugst, L. Faglia, O. Pyrovolakis). 8.1 Introducing Advanced Software Technologies in the Distributed Intelligent Broadband Network. 8.2 The Distributed Intelligent Broadband Network Reference Architecture. 8.3 Extending IN Design Methodology for the DIBN. 8.4 The Physical Elements. References. Chapter 9: Deployment of DOT/MAT Technology into the Distributed Intelligent Broadband Network (F. Chatzipapadopoulos, S. Choy, I. Venieris, F. Zizza). 9.1 What CORBA Offers to the DIBN Architecture. 9.2 The Communication Backbone. 9.3 Exploiting MAT Migration Facilities in the DIBN. 9.4 Service Creation Methodology and Framework. 9.5 Service Management Mechanisms and Procedures. 9.6 Designing and Implementing IN Network Elements within the DOT/MAT Environment. References. Chapter 10: Service Specification in the Distributed Intelligent Network (M. Breugst, G. Marino, M. Perdikeas). 10.1 Service Description Methodology: UML. 10.2 IMR Service. 10.3 BVT Service with Mobility Management Support. References. Index.

As the telecommunications environment has to cope with new regulations, ever changing customer demands and heterogeneous network technologies, so-called 'middleware platforms' and 'open service architectures' have emerged. Software technologies are considered key for achieving the required programmability of these platforms and architectures. The Intelligent Network (IN) represents the first globally accepted framework for an open telecommunication service architecture. Whereas the traditional IN adopts a centralized architecture based on the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) paradigm and the availability of common channel signaling networks, newer IN architectures are distributed, enabled by the availability of distributed object technologies (DOT) and mobile agent technologies (MAT). Provides a thorough introduction to the application of object oriented (OO) technologiesFocuses on the evolution of the Intelligent Network towards a distributed Intelligent Broadband NetworkDiscusses the benefits of DOT and MAT technologiesDescribes how the concentrated Broadband Intelligent Network can become distributedPresents comprehensive accounts of OO design methodologies; distributed object technologies (CORBA); independent code (Java) and intelligent and mobile agent technologies The wide scope of topics covered in this volume will prove invaluable to managers, network and service engineers and researchers as well as students of relevant fields.

"...it is true that a book of this type may force the reader into an ocean of alphabet soup in acronyms...the first two sections are readable with little effort...target audience is engineers and managers...as well as researchers in the particular area..." (New Books and Multimedia, www.comsoc.org, November/December 2000)