A Novel Web Synchronization Method for Supporting Smooth Web Communication

Users employ various communication services such as browser-based remote assistance to support voice communication in a call center. However, there is an issue with web services regarding smooth communication due to out-of-synchronization of output time on browsers in an environment where network delay and rendering time fluctuates among devices. This status is perceived as being somewhat strange, or even irritating. Several methods have been studied to prevent out-of-synchronization for real-time services such as voice and video. We also target synchronization of browser operations (e.g. page movement) for web services. We propose a novel web synchronization method (WSM). WSM continues to synchronize the output time of web content among browsers. Synchronized output is realized by controlling the time to notify each browser of browser operations, and by controlling the time to send web content according to network delay and rendering performance. For usability, WSM is unnecessary for installing new software on a browser. We implemented a prototype system and measured the difference in the output time among browsers. The results show that WSM achieves web synchronization within about 300 ms (target time: 400 ms).