Abstract: An HDL description of a communications protocol machine for transforming object communications into low-level octet sequences for physical transport is synthesized onto a programmable logic device such as an FPGA. This communications protocol machine replaces traditional software-based inter-ORB protocol engines in distributed computing environments, including embedded environments, to provide reduced latency. The communications protocol machine is described with two distinct elements: a protocol messaging machine and an encoder/decoder. The protocol messaging machine converts an object communication into a low-level octet sequence comprising one or more inter-ORB protocol messages and converts a low-level octet sequence comprising an inter-ORB protocol message into an object communication.