Component adaptation using adaptation pattern components

CBD (component-based development) or COP (component-oriented programming) has recently been adopted as a better method for software development. However, in order for CBD technology to be more successful, binary components developed and deployed by a third party or a vendor should be adaptable if the components do not meet a component user's requirements. A component user usually requires component adaptation if the provided interface and the required interface of a component are mismatched, or if a component attribute and method need to be modified. In this paper, an adaptation method for binary components using adaptation pattern components is proposed. The proposed method solves the problem of a component becoming ever larger as it is continuously adapted. The conventional method of component adaptation - by a wrapping technique - repeatedly performs the wrapping of an existing component whenever component adaptation is required, even if it is for the same reason each time. However, the adaptation technique proposed in this paper provides a new mechanism for supporting component adaptation by using reusable adaptation pattern components.