Jini Environment

Jini allows ``network plug and work''. New devices or software services can be added to a network, announce their presence, and then be invoked by clients. Jini specifies how announcement and search for services is to be done, but leaves unspecified many aspects of using Jini services in real life.

Some of these unspecified aspects are the set of standard interfaces for services such as printers, toasters, etc. These are the subject of special interest groups, and are not dealt with in this proposal. However, the standard interfaces that are eventually specified will be used by this proposal.

GUI aspects of services are also the subject of a special interest group. There is expected to be a greater synergy with this project.

This project covers the environment in which a Jini ``system'' will operate. A Jini system can be realised in many ways:

• A standard PC (or workstation) which is running many applications, including a ``Jini environment'' which allows access to Jini services.
• A smaller device in which the user interface is solely supplied by the Jini environment.
• A dedicated piece of hardware/software with no standard user interface.