Consistency Management for Peer-to-Peer-Based Massively Multiuser Virtual Environments

Massively Multiuser Virtual Environments (MMVEs) require a seamless and consistent execution. To provide this, the MMVE must include a sophisticated consistency management. This management must adapt its behavior to different activities carried out in the MMVE as well as different system loads. As an example, a movement activity must be handled differently to picking up an object. During times of high system load, a lower level of consistency might be acceptable if this enables the MMVE to continue operating with low network delay. Developing such a consistency management is a complex and time consuming effort. To support MMVE developers with this task, the authors propose the creation of a dedicated consistency management infrastructure.