Hierarchical Real Time Interapplication Communications

Real time interapplication communications are a key feature in musical multi-task operating systems. Independent applications can therefore be connected and collaborate by exchanging messages and data through communication channels. All these collaborating applications define a virtual network the user can dynamically configurate. The topology of such virtual network specifies the way applications can be connected together. This paper introduces a new hierarchical topology we recently implemented in our MidiShare multi-task operating system. This approach offers several advantages and particularly when a large number of applications are involved or in a multi-user context.