10. A software shell as claimed in claim 9 wherein the communication links include data-oriented and control-oriented communication links.
10. A software shell as claimed in claim 9 wherein the communication links include data-oriented and control-oriented communication links. 13. A software shell as claimed in claim 10 wherein the control-oriented communication links carry messages including: a start message; a stop message; an activate process message; a set parameters message; an acknowledgment message; and a notification of failure message.