1. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP) for Networked Virtual Environments and DIS-Java-VRML Library
Don Brutzman and Mike Zyda
NPSNET Research Group
Naval Postgraduate School
May 6, 2019

2. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
summary
Dial-a-behavior protocol supports DIS-like data protocol design and development
Support large-scale multicast applications such as virtual environments and net games
Modifiable on-the-fly across network, for rapid wide-area experimentation and testing
Public-domain software: Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) and Java
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

3. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
briefing topics
project objectives
background and motivation
DoD and public-domain relevance
completed work
target architecture
timetable
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

4. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
project objectives
DIS entity state protocols hard to modify due to fixed formats, slow standards process
Entity interaction protocols are a crucial network capability that need better testing
Formal grammars & agent software provide a rapid modify/test/revise methodology
produce “dial-a-behavior protocol” (DBP) to support large-scale virtual environments
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

5. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
background
Zyda postulated initial concept
Macedonia dissertation identified need
two supporting masters theses complete, initial work performed without funding
ONR funding: 1.5 years programmer time
Brutzman & McGregor: DIS-Java-VRML software library is basis for design and implementation of dial-a-behavior protocol
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

6. background: DoD relevance
increasing numbers and size of simulations
need to get past ~500 entities
value of approach is recognized by DIS community but not yet implemented
pertains to all (DoD, public domain) physically based real-time simulations
component of virtual reality transfer protocol (vrtp), usable by any VRML 3D
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

7. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
completed work
Michael Canterbury thesis
BNF PDU specification grammar, lex parser
Steve Stone thesis
PDU specification editor, Motif interface
Jack Kapp class project written in perl
HTML combo-form PDU specification editor
Don Brutzman: architecture design
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

8. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
Canterbury thesis
September 1995
devised formal grammar in Backus-Naur form (BNF)
implemented DIS grammar specification
demonstrated parser written in lex
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

9. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
Stone thesis
June 1996
revised grammar specification
developed a Motif user interface for the protocol grammar editor
initial evaluation of improvements in network performance
online paper published in 14th DIS workshop March 1996
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

10. target architecture design
no proprietary software
completely Web accessible
key concept: we are programming the Internet as if it were a single computer
on-the-fly syntax and semantics changes to over-the-wire data formats
enables protocol customization to match distributed application needs
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

11. general entity solution
VRML
Java
rendering
computation
data sharing
network
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

12. protocol-redefinition architecture
protocol guru
Protocol Definition Interface
Grammar parser builds replacement protocol manager
AOIM - Area of Interest Managers
Multiplayer networked Application Data Units
Shared 3D VRML Worlds
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

13. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
timetable
1996
finished protocol design, 25% implemented
1997
Completing baseline DIS software library
DIS PDUs & VRML testing on global MBone
DIS-Java-VRML (DJV) working group meeting November 12, Mountain View CA
DJV recommended practices for VRML
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

14. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
timetable
1998
Adapt DIS-Java-VRML (DJV) software library to dial-a-behavior protocol (DBP)
Extend wide-scale testing, working group scope
Build example optimized protocols
DIS “light” and multiplayer networked game
VRML Human Animation working group
Working group meeting and tutorial VRML 98
Global demonstration SIGGRAPH August 98
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)

15. Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)
contact info
Don Brutzman
voice, fax
Mike Zyda
voice, fax
12 February 98
Dial-a-Behavior Protocol (DBP)