Developing Infrastructures for Online Games and Distance Learning using RTF

Gorlatch Sergei, Glinka Frank, Ploss Alexander, Rawlings Chris, Surridge Mike

Abstract

The Real-Time Framework (RTF) is a novel development and execution platform for emerging Internet infrastructures and applications with real-time requirements, such as distance learning and multi-player online computer games. In this paper, we describe RTF as part of the edutain@grid service architecture and explain the role distribution between the application developer and the framework. We study in detail the use of RTF for two application use cases: 1) multi-player online games running on multiple servers, and 2) distance learning with frequent interactions over a wide-area network. Then, we report experimental results on the performance and scalability of RTF-based infrastructures and applications. Finally, we formulate the advantages of RTF and the edutain@grid architecture that go beyond the state of the art in the area.