Multicast Tree Diameter for Dynamic Distributed Interactive Applications

Abstract—Latency reduction in distributed interactive applications has been studied intensively. Such applications may have stringent latency requirements and dynamic user groups. We focus on using application-layer multicast with a centralized approach to the group management. The groups are organized in overlay networks that are created using graph algorithms. We investigate many spanning tree problems with particular focus on reducing the diameter of a tree, i.e., the maximum pairwise latency between users. In addition, we focus on reducing the time it takes to execute membership changes. In that context, we use core-selection heuristics to find well-placed group nodes, and edge-pruning algorithms to reduce the number of edges in an otherwise fully meshed overlay. Our edge-pruning algorithms strongly connect well-placed group nodes to the remaining group members, to create new and pruned group graphs, such that, when a tree algorithm is applied to a pruned group graph, it is mani...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: INFOCOM
• Authors: Knut-Helge Vik, Pål Halvorsen, Carsten Griwodz
• Keywords: Communications, Core-selection Heuristics, Edge-pruning Algorithms, INFOCOM 2008, Well-placed Group Nodes