16. The network of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of XML appliances/routers in the at least one distribution ring loop are configured to check if each received XML message is a duplicate XML message.
1. A network of XML appliances/routers for distributing XML documents/messages, the network comprising: a plurality of XML appliances/routers implemented as processes in separate physical computer systems and configured: to make XML routing decisions for XML documents/messages by applying XML subscription information to the XML documents/messages; and to forward the XML documents/messages toward subscribing clients according to the XML subscription information submitted by the subscribing clients, subsets of the subscribing clients being coupled to the XML appliances/routers via respective originating XML appliances/routers; and a plurality of communication links interconnecting the plurality of XML appliances/routers in at least one distribution ring established for the distribution of XML documents/messages between the XML appliances/routers, the at least one distribution ring comprising a plurality of the XML appliances/routers arranged serially in a ring and configured to transmit XML documents/messages from XML appliance/router to XML appliance/router around the ring; wherein: respective originating XML appliances/routers are configured to transmit/publish XML documents/messages onto the ring; and the XML appliances/routers on the distribution ring are configured: to receive XML subscription information from a respective subset of subscribing clients; to locally apply the subscription information to each XML document/message received on the distribution ring; to select XML documents/messages to be forwarded toward its subset of subscribing clients without exchanging XML subscription information between the XML appliances/routers; and to forward the selected XML documents/messages toward subscribing clients according to the XML subscription information submitted by subscribing clients.