Before reading about the solution, a fair question the reader may ask is: “What
is the problem? Is that problem important? and to whom?” Answering
these questions requires looking at a global picture of our computerized society.
Today, in a competitive world, enterprises of all kinds use and depend on timely
available, up-to-date information. Information volumes are growing 25-35% per
year and the traditional transaction rate has been forecast to grow by a factor
of 10 over the next five years-twice the current trend in mainframe growth.
In addition, there is already an increasing number of transactions arising
from computer systems in business-to-business interworking and by intelligent
terminals in the home, office or factory.
