Authors: Zhou, Y., Murata, T., DeFanti, T., Zhang, H.

Publication: Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers (IEICE) Transactions, Fundmentals Special Section on Concurrent Systems Technology, vol 83, no 11

Despite their attractive properties, networked virtual environments (net-VEs) are notoriously difficult to design, implement and test due to the concurrency, real-time and networking features in these systems. The current practice for net-VE design is basically trial and error, empirical, and totally lacks formal methods. This paper proposes to apply a Petri net formal modeling technique to a net-VE - NICE (Narrative Immersive Constructionist / Collaborative Environment), predict the net-VE performance based on simulation, and improve the net-VE performance. The NICE is essentially a network of collaborative virtual reality systems called the CAVE - (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment). First, we present extended fuzzy-timing Petri net models of both CAVE and NICE. Then, by using these models and Design / CPN as the simulation tool, we have conducted various simulations to study real-time behavior, network effects and performance (latencies and jitters) of NICE. Our simulation results are consistent with experimental data.

Date: November 1, 2000

Document: View PDF

Related Entries

Directory:

• Thomas A. DeFanti
• Charles Zhang

Research:

• Collaboration and Visualization over High Speed Networks
• CAVERN - The CAVE™ Research Network
• N.I.C.E: Narrative-based Immersive Constructionists / Collaborative Environments

Related Categories

• Applications
• Data Mining
• Networking
• Software
• Tele-Immersion
• VR