Enhancing network communication in NPSNET-V virtual Environments using XML : Described dynamic Behavior (DBP) Protocols

Abstract

The existing component protocols, as well as new protocols introduced at runtime into NPSNET-V are written in their native programming language. As a result, they require authoring and compiling by a trained programmer. The long time frame required to change or introduce new protocols into NPSNET-V, a dynamically extensible virtual environment, detracts from the dynamicism of the virtual environment. Networking optimization thresholds to support NPSNET-V needed to be determined to ensure that the networking is performed efficiently, and system resources to other systems, such as graphics rendering, are maximized. This thesis implements component protocols described using Extensible Markup Language (XML) into NPSNET-V. These protocols are created with different fidelity resolutions for each protocol, which can be swapped at runtime based on the network state. Network testing was performed to find the ideal maximum packet rates based on the impact on CPU utilization and packet loss. By using XML, non-programmers can edit protocols for inclusion in a simulation at runtime. Important contributions include adding protocols to NPSNET-V with high-resolution and low-resolution versions, described by XML documents. Basic network optimization is added to NPSNET-V to take advantage of the protocolsα resolution switching ability. The network testing revealed a linear correlation between the packet sending rate and CPU utilization, and a polynomial correlation between the packet sending rate and percentage packet loss.