Distributed computer communications in support of real-time visual simulations

Complex visual simulations can strain the capability of a single workstation. A mix of different workstations is often more economical than the use of a large processor for such simulations. Methods of communicating between such workstations are needed that allow the developer to spend effort on the simulation and not on communications. Simple protocols are developed to support both broadcast and direct-connect communications between workstations using TCP/IP on an Ethernet. Comparisons are made between broadcast and direct connect protocols. Keywords: Transmission control protocol(TCP); Ethernet; Computer networks. (KR)