Group synchronization control over haptic media in a networked real-time game with collaborative work

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with group (or inter-destination) synchronization control over haptic media in the case where two groups each of which consists of two players play a networked real-time game in which the two players in each group work with each other collaboratively. The group synchronization control adjusts the output timing of haptic media among the players' terminals. We enhance the synchronization maestro scheme, which the authors previously proposed, for the control so that we can handle two reference output timings, to which the players' terminals adjust their output timings. We examine the influence of the determination methods of the reference output timings on the fairness among the players and the efficiency of the work. By experiment, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a method which employs two reference output timings. The method adjusts the output timing of a terminal with the smaller network latency in a group to that in the other group, and it also adjusts the remaining two output timings.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.2 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
      I.2.1 Applications and Expert Systems
          Subjects: Games

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Haptic I/O
      H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces
          Subjects: Synchronous interaction

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation

Keywords:
collaborative work, experiment, fairness, group synchronization control, haptic media, networked real-time game