Policy-based separation of concerns for dynamic code mobility management

The convergence between the Internet and telecommunication systems promotes an integrated scenario characterized by different flavors of mobility. Users can connect to the network from ubiquitous points of attachment and wireless portable devices can roam by maintaining continuous connectivity. Novel middleware technologies based on code mobility has the potential to enhance service provisioning to mobile users/devices. However, code mobility adds complexity to the design of applications and calls for new approaches for the programming of code mobility strategies. Separation between mobility and computational concerns is crucial to reduce the complexity of code mobility control and to favor rapid mobile code-based service prototyping, run-time configuration and maintenance. To achieve the needed degree of separation of concerns the paper advocates the adoption of policies and proposes a policy-based framework for dynamic code mobility management. In addition, the paper explores a reflective-based approach to mobility control and compares policy with reflective-based programming solutions to point out the main differences and lessons learned.