COMPUTER SCIENCE THESIS PROPOSAL

MEMORANDUM From: To: Via: Ekrem Serin, Lieutenant Junior Grade, TU NAVY, CS-13 Curricular Officer, Computer Science Department (1) Thesis Advisor: Dr. Don Brutzman (2) Co-Advisor : CDR Joe Sullivan, USN (3) Second Reader: Research Associate Curt Blais (4) Academic Associate: Dr. Thomas Otani (5) Chair, Computer Science Department: LCDR Chris Eagle, USN THESIS APPROVAL REQUEST 15 July 2002

Subj:

Encl (1): Thesis Proposal: A Design and Test of a Schema Based Extensible Networked Virtual Environment. 1. Please review enclosure (1), and sign below: 1. Approved and Forwarded: Thesis Advisor Date

2. Approved and Forwarded: Co-Advisor 3. Approved and Forwarded: Second Reader 4. Approved and Forwarded: Academic Associate 5. Approved and Forwarded: Chairman, Computer Science Department 6. Approved and Forwarded: Curriculum Officer, Computer Science Department Very Respectfully, Ekrem Serin LTJG TU NAVY Date Date Date Date Date

Thesis Proposal
A. General Information 1 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. B. Name: SMC: Curriculum: Thesis Advisor: Co-Advisor: Second Reader: Academic Associate: Date of Graduation: Ekrem Serin 1158 Computer Science (368) Dr. Donald Brutzman CDR Joseph Sullivan, USN Research Associate Curt Blais Dr. Thomas Otani March 2003

Area of Research The purpose of this study is to develop and test a Schema Based Extensible Networked Virtual Environment utilizing JAVA, NPSNET-V, X3D/VRML, XML and XSLT programming/modeling languages. Networked Virtual Environment is a software system in which multiple users interact with each other in real time even though these users may be located around the world [M. Zyda]. By this study we will show a networked simulation that can work for 24 hours a day and 7 days a week with an extensible schema based networking protocol. During simulations we will collect data to analyze this new protocol. In order to collect data, a monitoring program will be implemented. After data collection, data will be analyzed to improve and design new simulations in the future. Daily (24 x 7 x 365) monitored networking exercises via PDU Farm will be performed with research partners George Mason University (GMU). Public demonstration will be at IITSEC conference Orlando,FL December 3-6 2002.

B.

Research Question How can an Extensible Schema Based Networked Virtual Environment be effectively developed to remove networking problem between networked virtual environments ? Supporting Questions What are the requirements and methodology for developing extensible schema based networking protocol ? o What are the current technologies to support this development ? o o What are the contributions of XML, XSD, XSLT, JDOM and DOM4J APIs in this modeling ? What JAVA classes , XML and XSLT files should be implemented ? What steps should be taken with the networking model to ensure its portability to other networked virtual environments ?

What are the test beds for demonstration purposes ? o o What 3D models should be implemented by using X3D and VRML modeling languages ? How can we incorporate models into NPSNET-V architecture ? o What java classes need to be developed to interact with the NPSNET-V environment ? What already exist? What need to be created from scratch? How do we represent a networked virtual environment scenario in order to display the simulation?

What type monitoring architecture can be suitable for data collection purposes ? o o o o o o What java classes should be implemented ? What data should be collected to get enough information from the simulation ? What considerations should be taken into account when presenting these data ? How can we derive conclusions from presented data ? What considerations should be taken into account for validating the models performance? Are java extensions JXTA and JMX suitable for peer-to-peer and multicasting future work ?

What type of interface is required for end-user interactions ? o o o What considerations should be taken into account when designing this interface? How can the interface be designed to incorporate future requirements and needs of end-users of the model? What Java classes should be implemented to embed graphical user interface to NPSNET-V environment ?

C.

Scope of the Thesis This thesis will be focused on developing a networked virtual environment model that will use extensible schema based networking protocol. Networking is a common problem for Net-VE. In order to communicate with other entities in a Net-VE, communication protocol have historically been hard coded into the program and all entities should support that protocol. With this work, we will show that it is not necessary to hard code the networking protocol into the simulation program.

F.

Methodology Initially a schema based Protocol Datagram Units (PDUs) will be developed. The next stage of the development is generating java classes dynamically by using XSLT / XPath programming language. After completion of dynamic code generation, X3D/VRML ship models will be developed and implemented. The next stage of development process is embedding 3D models and networking protocol into the NPSNET-V architecture. After embedding networking protocol and 3D models, a networked virtual environment scenario will be developed and implemented. The last step is developing a monitoring and presentation program that will collect 2

information from network and present those data. All tests will be automated using a set of packet servers which we call a PDU Farm. All results will be automatically collected and available via web browsers. At the conclusion of the thesis, the model will be able to serve as a reasonable solution to hard coded networking problem in Networked Virtual Environments. G. Chapter Outline o Introduction o o Motivation Statement of Problem o o o Scope and Assumptions Research Questions

Research Objectives Organization

Literature Review o o o o o o o o o o o Networked Virtual Environments Networking Component of Virtual Environments XML, XSD, XSLT and DOM Interaction X3D/VRML scene-graph creation NPSNET-V, VRML and JAVA Interaction. Data Collection and Presentation NPS Backbone GMU Backbone DREN Internet-2 / Abileve GRID

Design and Implementation o o o o o Implementing Protocol Datagram Units Dynamic Code Generation Embedding Code With NPSNET-V architecture Creating a Networked Virtual Environment Scenario Monitoring and Data Collection Implementation

PDU Farm o o PDU Farm Hardware/Software Configuration Cross Country Test Network 3

Data Collection / Metrics

o o o o o

Bandwidth Latency Collision Throughput

Analysis and Results o o o Analysis of the data Graphical representations of collected data Deriving results from collected data

Conclusions and Recommendations o o o Summary Conclusions We have established public internetworked cyberspace. Recommendations for future work

o o o o H.

Appendices List of References Bibliography Initial Distribution List

Schedule 25 Sep 02 05 Oct 02 15 Oct 02 25 Oct 02 15 Nov 02 25 Nov 02 01 Dec 02 01 Jan 03 15 Feb 03 05 Mar 02

1. Complete Schema Based Protocol Datagram Units 2. Complete X3D / VRML Scene Graph Generation 3. Complete PDU Farm Setup 4. Complete Embedding Code and Scene Graph into NPSNET-V 5. Complete Interface Implementation. 6. Complete Data Monitoring Implementation 7. Complete Cross Country Tests, Automatic Recording of Tests 8. Complete Data Collection and Analysis 9. First Draft 10. Final Review / Thesis Complete.

I.

Benefits of Study 4

This thesis will try to propose a reasonable solution to extension problem of networking protocols in Networked Virtual Environments. 10. Anticipated Travel / Funding Requirements - IITSEC conference 2-6 December 2002, Orlando,FL 11. Preliminary Bibliography 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Networked Virtual Environments : Design and Implementation, S. Singhal and M. Zayda A Taxonomy For Networked Virtual Environments, M.Macedonia, M.Zyda Research Issues in Developing Networked Virtual Realities : Working Group Report on Distributed System Aspects of Sharing Virtual Reality, M. Capps, D.Stotts Projects in VR, NPSNET-V, A New Beginning for Dynamically Extensible Virtual Environments, M.Capps, D.McGregor, D.Brutzman, M.Zyda Networking Large-Scale Virtual Environments, M.Zyda Bamboo-A Portable System for Dynamically Estensible, Real-time, Networked Virtual Environment, K.Watsen, M.Zyda An Open Middleware for Large-scale Networked Virtual Environments, F.D.Tran, M.Deslaugiers, A.Gerodolle, L.Hazard, N.Rivierre A Framework for Multiuser Distributed Virtual Environments, M.Matijasevic, D.Gracanin, K.P.Valavanis, I.Lovrek The Virtual Reality Modeling Language and Java, D. Brutzman 10. Graphics Internetworking: Bottlenecks and Breakthroughs, D.Brutzman 11. VRML 2.0 Source Book, A.L. Ames, D.R. Nadeau, J.L.Moreland 12. The Arts of Computer System Performance Analysis, R. Jain 13. Beginning XML 2nd Edition, D.Hunter, K.Cagle, C.Dix, R.Kovack, J.Pinnock, J.Rafter