Influences of Network Delay on Quality of Experience for Soft Objects in Networked Real-Time Game with Haptic Sense

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the influences of network delay on QoE (Quality of Experience) such as the operability of haptic interface device and the fairness between players for soft objects in a networked real-time game subjectively and objectively. We handle a networked balloon bursting game in which two players burst balloons (i.e., soft objects) in a 3D virtual space by using haptic interface devices, and the players compete for the number of burst balloons. As a result, we find that the operability depends on the network delay from the local terminal to the other terminal, and the fairness is mainly dependent on the difference in network delay between the players' terminals. We confirm that there exists a trade-off relationship between the operability and the fairness. We also see that the contribution of the fairness is larger than that of the operability to the comprehensive quality (i.e., the weighted sum of the operability and fairness). Assessment results further show that the output timing of terminals should be adjusted to the terminal which has the latest output timing to maintain the fairness when the difference in network delay between the terminals is large. In this way, the comprehensive quality at each terminal can be maintained as high as possible.

Fairness Assessment in Networked Games with Olfactory and Haptic Senses

“…In this section, we make a comparison of assessment results of fairness among the following games: the networked real-time game with haptic sense [5], networked balloon bursting game [6] [7], and networked fruit harvesting game [8].…”

“…In [6], the authors investigate the trade-off relationship between the operability of haptic interface device and the fairness between the two players by QoE assessment. In [7], they also examine the influences of network delay on QoE such as the operability and fairness. However, in the games, the authors do not deal with the olfactory sense.…”

“…In [6] and [7], the authors deal with soft objects in a networked balloon bursting game with haptic sense. In the game, two players burst balloons (i.e., soft objects) in a 3D virtual space by using haptic interface devices and compete for the number of bursted balloons.…”

“…However, in the games, when multiple media streams related to such sensations are transmitted over a network where QoS (Quality of Service) is not guaranteed like the Internet, media synchronization is disturbed and QoE (Quality of Experience) [11] of fairness among users may seriously be deteriorated owing to the network delay, delay jitter, and packet loss [5] [6] [7] [8].…”

[Paper] Influence of Local Lag on Human Perception of Softness in Networked Virtual Environment with Haptic Sense

“…This means degradation of Quality of Experience (QoE) [15]. The reason is mainly that the features of objects may change in different ways; for example, they may become harder and/or heavier as the network delay increases [17]- [21]. To avoid the deterioration, we need to carry out QoS control such as the local lag control [13], the dynamic local lag control [22], the adaptive ∆-causality control [23], which also utilizes the local lag control, and adaptive viscoelasticity control [24].…”