A Scalable Framework for Large-Scale Distributed Collaboration

There is an increasing need for computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) in recent years. However, most of existing collaborative systems are not scalable enough, thus leading to bad usability. In this paper we propose a scalable framework for large-scale distributed collaboration which aims to support a wide range of collaboration requirements. The framework comprises a set of geographically dispersed collaborative servers (co-servers) specially deployed by participant organizations. The set of co-servers constitutes an overlay network which provides an infrastructural supporting environment for large-scale distributed collaboration. The framework is scalable in terms of the geographic distribution of participant organizations, size of groups, and total number of groups. The framework will be used to build the next-generation collaborative e-learning platform. A prototype system is being developed to demonstrate the application of the framework