ACK-less Streaming for 3D Model Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In client-server environments, real-time interaction with three-dimensional models is hindered by latency due to the need for acknowledged packets, which introduces geographical distance-dependent frame rate issues and de-synchronization between client and server.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a stack-based system where new packets replace existing ones with matching category identifiers that are not locked, ensuring only the most recent update is processed, and using a similar stack on the client to prevent sending old data, enabling acknowledgement-less communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acknowledged packets are used to ensure synchronization, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to waiting for acknowledgments
Solution Approach 1:
The server pre-renders multiple frames ahead of the current display position and stores them in a buffer. This preliminary action allows the server to have ready-made frames available for immediate transmission without waiting for client acknowledgments, thus reducing latency while maintaining synchronization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A buffer is introduced as an intermediary between the rendering process and the network transmission. The buffer decouples the rendering timeline from the network acknowledgment timeline, allowing frames to be prepared in advance and transmitted without blocking on acknowledgments, thereby reducing latency while preserving synchronization.
2Loss of information
If all generated events are sent to the server, then completeness of data is improved, but loss of time increases due to processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and sends only the essential event data (category identifier and timestamp) to the server, rather than transmitting complete event objects. This extraction reduces the amount of data processed and transmitted while preserving the critical information needed for frame generation, thus reducing processing time without losing essential data completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting complex event objects, the system transmits simplified copies containing only the category identifier and timestamp. These lightweight copies contain sufficient information for the server to retrieve or reconstruct the full event data, reducing transmission and processing overhead while maintaining data completeness.
3Speed
If frame rate is increased to improve responsiveness, then speed is improved, but device complexity increases due to rendering load
Solution Approach 1:
The rendering workload is segmented into discrete, pre-rendered frames that are independently stored in the buffer. Each frame can be prepared and stored separately, allowing the rendering process to be distributed over time rather than concentrated, thus enabling high frame rates without overwhelming the server's processing capacity at any single moment.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple frames are rendered and stored in advance in the buffer before they are needed for transmission. This preliminary rendering action distributes the computational load over time, allowing the server to maintain high frame rates by simply retrieving pre-rendered frames rather than rendering them in real-time under load.
Data Source
AI summary
An optimized ACK-less (“no acknowledgement required”) communication between the client and the server is enabled. Regardless of distance between the client and server, complete synchronization between the mouse movement, or any other updates to the three-dimensional model, and the rendered result is attained. Maximum frame rate is also attained, without requiring the inefficiency, and resulting latency, of acknowledged packets.