A model of naming for fine-grained service specification in distributed systems

A syntax-oriented model for naming feature-based specification of services is provided. The model allows a service to evolve or reconfigure in functionality by adding and removing features and still coexist with its previous versions. The model´s two aspects are examined. With this model for specifying services, name server functions may be factorized from service specific functions and implemented in a generic fashion in terms of parse and match operations and function invocations. This model can provide significant extension to such naming schemes as X.500 and the Universal Naming Protocol in supporting feature-based service interfaces