Adaptive network traffic management for multi user virtual environments

Multi User Virtual Environments (MUVE) are a new class of Internet application with a significant user base. This thesis adds to our understanding of how MUVE network traffic fits into the mix of Internet traffic, and how this relates to the application’s needs. MUVEs differ from established Internet traffic types in their requirements from the network. They differ from traditional data traffic in that they have soft real-time constraints, from game traffic in that their bandwidth requirements are higher, and from audio and video streaming traffic in that their data streams can be decomposed into elements that require different qualities of service. This work shows how real-time adaptive measurement based congestion control can be applied to MUVE streams so that they can be made more responsive to changes in network conditions than other real-time traffic and existing MUVE clients. It is shown that a combination of adaptive congestion control and differential Quality of Service (QoS) can increase the range of conditions under which MUVEs both get sufficient bandwidth and are Transport Control Protocol (TCP) fair. The design, implementation and evaluation of an adaptive traffic management system is described. The system has been implemented in a modified client, which allows the MUVE to be made TCP fair without changing the server. 1. Candidate’s declarations: I, Iain Oliver, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 84,740 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. I was admitted as a research student in [month, year] and as a candidate for the degree of Ph.D. in September, 2006; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2006 and 2010. Date 09/08/2011 signature of candidate . 2. Supervisor’s declaration: I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Ph.D. in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date 09/08/2011 signature of supervisor . 3. Permission for electronic publication: (to be signed by both candidate and supervisor) In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and the abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that my thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use unless exempt by award of an embargo as requested below, and that the library has the right to migrate my thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to the thesis. I have obtained any third-party copyright permissions that may be required in order to allow such access and migration, or have requested the appropriate embargo below. The following is an agreed request by candidate and supervisor regarding the electronic publication of this thesis: Add one of the following options: (i) Access to printed copy and electronic publication of thesis through the University of St Andrews. Date 09/08/2011 signature of candidate . signature of supervisor . A supporting statement for a request for an embargo must be included with the submission of the draft copy of the thesis. Where part of a thesis is to be embargoed, please specify the part and the reasons.