The design of distance-learning service creation environment

Based on the object-oriented perspective and the reuse-driven feature of algorithmic modules, a distance-learning service creation environment has been deployed. The conceptual model of the environment consists of four planes: the learning service feature plane, the global functional plane, the distributed functional plane and the physical plane. The first plane represents a service-oriented view to describe the learning service-related behaviour, the second plane represents a service-independent view realized by the learning service building block, the third plane represents a distributed model of the service network, and the last plane represents a physical model of the service network. The environment is a powerful tool that allows users to quickly create and customize distance-learning services under broadband networks without having to know all the detailed knowledge of the network infrastructure