A design for implementation of a distributed host architecture for distributed interactive simulations

This document contains a design for the implementation of a Distributed Host Architecture, or DHA, for running Distributed Interactive Simulations (DIS). The proposal is standards-based, built upon and extending the DIS 1278.1 standard. Different models of distributing simulations over networks are discussed, including the centralized server, peer-to-peer and distributed server model. The pros and cons of each model are reviewed with examples from existing software. The distributed server model is chosen for the DHA proposal for its inherent scale ability and suitability to the emerging broadband infrastructures available today and which will become commonplace in the near future.Master of Philosophy (SCE