an object request broker for receiving an incoming message including a message header and a message body in general inter - orb protocol type format , the orb comprising : an external orb element for converting the header of the incoming message to an implementation - specific format , and for providing the header in implementation - specific format with the body in giop type format to a distribution mechanism for identifying an appropriate target server for processing the body of the incoming message ; and an internal orb element associated with the identified target server for converting the body of the incoming message to an implementation - specific format for use by the target server to process the message .