Abstract

The manner in which one can apply the security features of current middleware platforms, like Enterprise Java Beans and CORBA, are either too simple and limited or too complex and difficult to use. In both cases are the provided features static and do not support the flexibility needed in a wide range of applications. This paper presents an approach to flexible security mechanisms in the context of a reflective middleware architecture. The reflective middleware OOPP is a component and capsule (container) based platform providing its reflective features through a set of distinct meta-models. Flexible security mechanisms are provided using a specialized programming language called Obol. In OOPP the flexible security mechanisms based on Obol is a subset of the reflective features of the middleware platform. In particular Obol and its machinery is a subset of one distinct aspect or meta-model of the middleware platform.

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