CORBA - intergalactic object bus.

CORBA defines middleware that has the potential of subsuming every other form of existing client/server software. It uses objects as a unifying metaphor for bringing to the bus existing applications while at the same time providing solid component based future.

It is self describing. Moreover the specification of the services are separated from the implementation details.

It was designed to allow intelligent components to discover each other and interoperate on an object bus.