A zone based architecture for massively multi-user simulations

ABSTRACT

Massively multi-user simulation requires synchronous communication among the parties. In this paper, we present a multi-user collaboration architecture that divides the virtual world into multiple adjacent hexagonal regions in order to properly organize the entities and efficiently manage their liaison. A special node, named hybrid node, is in charge of each hexagonal region and constructs a data distribution tree at the application layer rather than the network layer. While constructing the data distribution pathways among the endhosts, the protocol focuses on reflecting the underlying network physical topology onto the overlay network to enhance the system performance. To control the excessive message overhead, necessary messages of a foreign region are only imported when needed to a particular region through a hybrid node. Dynamic adjustment of check-in and checkout marks reduces frequent connections and disconnections between a hybrid and an ordinary node and provides resilience to the system. The effectiveness of this collaboration architecture is tested through the implementation.

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INDEX TERMS

Keywords:
application layer multicasting, area of interest management, massively multiplayer online games, multi-user collaboration, virtual environments