An Aid To Support Collaborative Design And Network Environment

Many research works have been done on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) since it was put forward in 1 980s. Some research results have been taken into use in some fields. But most of the research and applications focus on general CSCW techniques; few research interests are given to those special application fields such as collaborative design. This paper studied in detail the techniques of CSCW application in design. And, a prototype system was developed to support collaborative design. The main research works are as follows: 1. Point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communication techniques are studied, and implemented by Java multi-thread and TCP Socket to support collaborative design in networking environment. 2. Collaborative viewing techniques of 3D geometry model are studied, which are supported by message communication and event capturing and distribution handling. 3. Collaborative session techniques are studied, including session control, floor control and collaborative awareness. Floor control, based on token passing, is implemented to support concurrentcontrol and coordination in collaborative works.4. A prototyPe system is developed by Java language. It is an aid toolto suPPort collabofative design, Which can provides users with thefunctions of collaborative viewing and discussing on 3D models indistriboted nfororklng environment. TWo kinds of client tools areprovided: stand-alone aPplication and web browser.