Distributed cooperative control for sharing applications based on multiparty and multimedia desktop conferencing system: MERMAID

A control scheme for sharing applications that is based on MERMAID, a distributed multiparty desktop conferencing system, is described. The control scheme design is based on a replicated architecture which runs a copy of the application at every site or workstation. It is shown that the approach is applicable to developing shared applications, with slight application-independent modifications, to sharing existing single-user applications. The shared-application structure and the functions required for shared applications are discussed. A method for sharing applications for cases in which external resources are accessed is discussed