one.box Distributed home service interface
Core Components Pop3 client Router Storage Pop3 Server
Pop3 Client and Server Client pulls off Pop3 servers (yahoo.com, sumatra, etc) Server allows outside (of one.box network) access to
Router Directs from the Pop3 client or any other internal client. Human readable message is stored in user’s inbox. Control message is sent to the recipient service or is left in the service’s undelivered tuple.
Storage Configuration State
Jini Java framework for distributed applications rmi (synchronous) Provides lookup, discovery, join, activation, lease management, remote events, javaspaces, etc
Services (Fridge) Fridge is the only service Keeps track of contents Calculates grocery list Sends and receives
Setup Register new users Allow users to add, delete, or update accounts Setup once
Setup Features Remote events. Simple GUI, allows for easy account management.
Pop3 Client Features Separate thread for each account. Reconnects to server whenever time interval has elapsed. notifications in case of error.
Storage Features Tuples (TSpaces by IBM) Hierarchal naming structure Leasing Locks Automatic lease management
Normal Operation Pop3 client polls Pop3 server for new Sends to Router Router directs accordingly
Router Down Pop3 client will store undelivered in storage
Router Back Up Router looks in storage for undelivered messages Delivers accordingly
Activation Activation makes things more resilient. Makes restarts simpler. …in theory…
Bad Things Activation (rmid) Why’s that service still up (lease, log) Tough to debug and test (inherent with distributed application paradigm?) Synchronous
Good Things Develop components normally, then jinify A lot of services already provided (lookup, discovery, etc.) Once a jini service is working, it’s very easy to use
One.world More distributed components Printer service Scheme configurable service components We have cooler stuff –But Jini team stuff works better (for now)
Auth Keeps track of users in the system Keeps track of the various authentication information –Data for contacting external pop3 servers Centralized place to store this data –Not a secure solution
Monitor(Pop3 Client) Collects from external Pop3 servers Each monitor serves a different user in the system
Filter Directs from the Monitor Human readable or control message?
Router Gets control message from filter Finds the service control message is intended for
Inbox Holds all the users data Uses checkpoint –Movable too (but not implemented) Data is never deleted
Pop3Server Used to communicate with clients Hardest component to implement –Delete messages here –Distributed state –Mixture of messaging style Asynchronous with rest of one.box Synchronous with clients
ServiceComponent External services implement this interface Scheme configurable Printer is a ServiceComponent
Normal Operation Monitor To Filter Filter Checks Message –If Control Message Send to Router Router sends To Appropriate Service –If Send to Inbox Inbox Stores the
Normal Operation (2) Service Processes Control Message –Printer Pop3Server polls the Inboxes –Downloaded to itself –Serves it to connecting clients
Good & Bad Things Asynchronous events –Pop3Server –Everything else Discovery Transparency
Bad Things Synchronization/Threading complexities Interaction with Swing Harder to one.worldize –ServiceComponent is our solution for one.box
Good Things Integrated System Structured IO Code and Data is shared
Future Work Stability OneBox/Mover/WatchDog New Patterns/Refactoring Better Setup Tools Integration with Other Systems