Automatic management of sessions in shared spaces
Automatic management of sessions in shared spaces
Résumé
In this paper we propose a session model suited for cooperative work in shared spaces such as virtual
3D spaces. Our session model aims at structuring interactions on shared objects, without requiring
explicit session preparation. Sessions are rule driven: accessing objects triggers automatic session
creation, deletion or merge. Automatic session management enhances the dynamics of cooperation:
users are not constrained by predefined schemes and they can join and leave easily by accessing shared
objects (e.g. editing documents, moving to locations in virtual spaces). Our session management model is
well suited to coincidental encounters and cooperation in shared spaces. Moreover, sessions promote
rules for shared access and help users to get a clear perception of the ongoing interactions. As
cooperative applications are distributed by essence, maintaining data consistency is a difficult issue. Our
session model helps to define groups of objects which can then be used by a distributed consistency
management service. In this paper we detail our session model and its rules, together with an algorithm
for automatic session management.
In this paper we propose a session model suited for cooperative work in shared spaces such as virtual
3D spaces. Our session model aims at structuring interactions on shared objects, without requiring
explicit session preparation. Sessions are rule driven: accessing objects triggers automatic session
creation, deletion or merge. Automatic session management enhances the dynamics of cooperation:
users are not constrained by predefined schemes and they can join and leave easily by accessing shared
objects (e.g. editing documents, moving to locations in virtual spaces). Our session management model is
well suited to coincidental encounters and cooperation in shared spaces. Moreover, sessions promote
rules for shared access and help users to get a clear perception of the ongoing interactions. As
cooperative applications are distributed by essence, maintaining data consistency is a difficult issue. Our
session model helps to define groups of objects which can then be used by a distributed consistency
management service. In this paper we detail our session model and its rules, together with an algorithm
for automatic session management.