MV-4474 Virtual Environment Network and Software Architectures (3-2) Syllabus
April 5, 2002
MV-4474 Virtual Environment Network and Software Architectures (3-2) This course covers the design and implementation of network and software architectures for real-time, interactive 3D virtual environments (VEs). Network architecture topics include a taxonomy for networked virtual environments, distributed interactive simulation protocols (DIS and HLA), virtual reality modeling language (VRML), agent-based network protocols (Java/Telescript), proposed solutions for large-scale networked virtual environments (area of interest managers and object brokers), multicast backbone tools and developments, and virtual reality transfer protocol proposals. Software architecture topics include representative software architectures for VEs (NPSNET, DIVE, MASSIVE, ...), commercial toolkits for VE development (WorldToolKit, Division's dvs, Performer, ...), lag in multiprocessor virtual environments, and the HCI implications on VE network and software architectures. PREREQUISITE: MV-4473 or the consent of the instructor.
Course Logistics
The lectures in this course follow the Singhal/Zyda text from chapter 1 through chapter 9. Each student is expected to develop a programming project showing their knowledge of networked virtual environments. That project must be approved by the instructor. An in-class presentation on that project is due near the end of the quarter. Students are required to turn in Powerpoint versions of their presentation slides. A Powerpoint template provided by the instructor must be used.
Networked Virtual Environments in 90 Minutes!
PresentationCourse Powerpoint Slides
Reading List:
Sandeep Singhal & Michael Zyda "Networked Virtual Environments - Design and Implementation", ACM Press 1999.
Networked Virtual Environments - Design and Implementation
By Sandeep Singhal and Michael Zyda
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter One - Promises and Challenges of Networked Virtual Environments 1
- What Is a Networked Virtual Environment? 1
- Graphics Engines and Displays 4
- Control and Communication Devices 5
- Processing Systems 6
- Data Network 7
- Control and Communication Devices 5
- Challenges in Net-VE Design and Development 9
- Network Bandwidth 9
- Heterogeneity 10
- Distributed Interaction 11
- Real-Time System Design and Resource Management 12
- Failure Management 13
- Scalability 15
- Deployment and Configuration 16
- Heterogeneity 10
- Conclusion 16
- References 17
Chapter Two - The Origin of Networked Virtual Environments 19
- Department of Defense Networked Virtual Environments 20
- SIMNET 20
- Distributed Interactive Simulation 26
- Networked Games and Demos 34
- SGI Flight and Dogfight 34
- Doom 35
- Other Games 36
- Doom 35
- Academic Networked Virtual Environments 37
- NPSNET 37
- PARADISE 42
- DIVE 44
- BrickNet 46
- MR Toolkit Peer Package 48
- Others 49
- PARADISE 42
- Conclusion 49
- References 50
Chapter Three - A Networking Primer 55
- Fundamentals of Data Transfer 56
- Network Latency 56
- Network Bandwidth 58
- Network Reliability 58
- Network Protocol 60
- Network Bandwidth 58
- The BSD Sockets Architecture 61
- Sockets and Ports 62
- The Internet Protocol 65
- Introducing the Internet Protocols for Net-VEs 65
- Transmission Control Protocol 67
- User Datagram Protocol 67
- IP Broadcasting Using UDP 69
- IP Multicasting 70
- User Datagram Protocol 67
- Selecting a Net-VE Protocol 75
- Using TCP/IP 77
- Using UDP/IP 77
- Using IP Broadcasting 80
- Using IP Multicasting 82
- Using UDP/IP 77
- Conclusion 82
- References 83
Chapter Four - Communication Architectures 87
- Two Players on a LAN 87
- Multiplayer Client-Server Systems 90
- Multiplayer Client-Server, with Multiple-Server Architectures 94
- Peer-to-Peer Architectures 95
- Conclusion 98
- References 98
- Multiplayer Client-Server Systems 90
Chapter Five - Managing Dynamic Shared State 101
- The Consistency-Throughput Tradeoff 101
- Proof of the Tradeoff 104
- Design Implications of the Tradeoff 105
- Maintaining Shared State Inside Centralized Repositories 107
- A File Repository 108
- A Repository in Server Memory 110
- Virtual Repositories 112
- Advantages and Drawbacks to Centralized Repositories 115
- A Repository in Server Memory 110
- Reducing Coupling through Frequent State Regeneration 117
- Explicit Entity Ownership 118
- Systems Using Frequent State Regeneration 122
- Reducing the Broadcast Scope 124
- Advantages and Drawbacks of Frequent State Regeneration 125
- Systems Using Frequent State Regeneration 122
- Dead Reckoning of Shared State 127
- Prediction and Convergence 128
- Prediction Using Derivative Polynomials 129
- Object-Specialized Prediction 134
- Convergence Algorithms 137
- Addressing Consistency-Throughput through Nonregular Transmissions 140
- Advantages and Limitations of Dead Reckoning 142
- Prediction Using Derivative Polynomials 129
- Conclusion 143
- References 144
Chapter Six - Systems Design 147
- One Thread, Multiple Threads 147
- With One Thread . . . 147
- With Multiple Threads . . . 152
- Important Subsystems 156
- Real-Time Rendering: Polygon Culling and Level-of-Detail Processing 157
- Real-Time Collision Detection and Response 165
- Computational Resource Management 174
- Real-Time Collision Detection and Response 165
- Conclusion 175
- References and Further Reading 176
Chapter Seven - Resource Management for Scalability and Performance 181
- An Information-Centric View of Resources 183
- Optimizing the Communications Protocol 185
- Packet Compression 186
- Packet Aggregation 191
- Controlling the Visibility of Data 195
- Area-of-Interest Filtering Subscriptions 197
- Multicasting 204
- Hybrid Multicast Aggregation 210
- Multicasting 204
- Taking Advantage of Perceptual Limitations 213
- Exploiting Level-of-Detail Perception 215
- Exploiting Temporal Perception 221
- Enhancing the System Architecture 236
- Server Clusters 237
- Peer-Server Systems 243
- Conclusion 244
- References 246
Chapter Eight - Internet Networked Virtual Environments 251
- VRML-Based Virtual Environments 251
- Some Existing Networked VRML Worlds 253
- virtual reality transfer protocol 262
- Internet Gaming 263
- Overview of Online Gaming Services 264
- Internet Gaming Software Architectures 266
- Future Internet Gaming Directions 269
- Internet Gaming Software Architectures 266
- Conclusion 271
- References 271
Chapter Nine - Perspective and Predictions 275
- Better Library Support 275
- Bamboo 276
- High Level Architecture 279
- Java-Based Toolkits 283
- Toolkits Being Developed Everywhere . . . 284
- High Level Architecture 279
- Toward a Better Internet 285
- Research Frontiers 287
- Past, Present, and Future 289
- References 290
- Research Frontiers 287
Appendix - Network Communications in C, C++, and Java 293
- Using TCP/IP from C and C++ 293
- Managing Concurrent Connections in C and C++ 297
- Using TCP/IP from Java 300
- Managing Concurrent Connections in Java 303
- Using UDP/IP from C and C++ 305
- Using UDP/IP from Java 308
- Broadcasting from C and C++ 310
- Broadcasting from Java 310
- Multicasting from C and C++ 311
- Multicasting from Java 312
- References 313
- Managing Concurrent Connections in C and C++ 297
Index 315
Faculty Contact for Information:
Michael Zyda zyda@movesinstitute.org