Pavilion: a middleware framework for collaborative Web-based applications

ABSTRACT

This paper describes Pavilion, an object-oriented middleware framework for developing collaborative web-based applications. Pavilion enables a developer to construct new applications by inheriting and extending its default functionality. Reusable and extensible Pavilion components include interfaces to common web browsers, a reliable multicast protocol tailored for delivery of web resources, a leadership protocol for floor control, and a highly modular proxy server that supports data type-specific plug-ins. The architecture and operation of Pavilion are described, followed by a discussion of VGuide, a synchronous VRML application built using Pavilion. VGuide enables one user to lead other users through virtual worlds in a synchronous manner.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Theory