Voice Chat Review

MINI PROJECT FIRST REVIEW

GUIDE-P.KUMARESAN

BY-S.V.RAMAN08BIT185

Multi-user Voice Chat

Aim

The aim of this project is to design , develop and implement a voice chat application using java as the main programming language.

This application allows multiple users to chat with one other through an internet connection.

The users can be connected with each other either through internet or a local area connection like intranet.

This software is primarily developed by using java and java applets.

Compatibility

It requires a browser to execute.

It also requires a java application like dr java , net beans etc.

It is compatible with almost all of the leading browser.

Browsers

A few browsers that are supported are :-

Chrome by Google !Internet explorer from series 5 !Mozilla Firefox 3 and above ! A point that has to be noted here is that each

of the browsers’ above should have a compatible java add-on / plug –in available from “sun java”

Protocols

The main protocol suite followed by this application is internet protocol (IP). IP is a set of protocols that make transmission of data over various networks possible.

IP is installed in not only the server and client machines but also in the routers of the underlying network.

IP basically routes data across networks by supplying an unique id called the IP address.

VoIP

A variation of IP that is useful in the context of this application is the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

It is very similar to the IP suite but allows transmission of data in the form of voice much like a telephone network.

Key Features

It supports a large number if users.

It allows the existence of a special privileged user called the administrator.

Each person must have a log-in id and password to use the application.

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The special privileges afforded to administrators include adding or removing users and regulating access.

It is developed entirely using java.

Software Requirements

Java It is a network –friendly programming

language.It was originally invented by sun

microsystems.It enables applications to run reliably and is

used in design and development of a variety of network products ranging from multi player online games to mobile phone applications.

It also helps design GUI’s with ease.

Hardware Requirements

Works on even very basic machines.Requires minimum of 512 mb RAM for

optimal performance.Requires a sound card and microphone

support.For internet connectivity a suitable ethernet

cable is required.In case of wireless networks a Wi-Fi adapter

is required.

Scope

The main scope of this project is to facilitate user communication and interaction.

It allows users an alternate to traditional “text” type communication and the bandwidth guzzling video chat.

It’s main advantage is the support for conferences ,that is, more than two users catting at a time.

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It is installed and run as a java applet.

Hence it’s platform independent to a high degree.

It works well even over low-speed internet connections.

Modules

Server –side modulesChat server, server chat handler

Client –side modulesGeneral chat client ,shared client

Server -side

Chat server-

This module’s main aim is the establishment and maintenance of connections.

It is like an initiator of the server.

It also establishes the default port.

Server-chat handler sub modules

A sub module for checking socket establishment

A sub module to check if a user is idle for too long.

A sub module that performs various activities like the correct receipt of audio data , connection problems ,length of data stream etc.

A sub module to broadcast a text message to all users

Client side modules

General chat clientConsists all the code that shape the client

side view of the application.These include creating java swing objects.Designing interfaceHandling exceptions

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Shared client

This module assigns values to general environment variables based on their predicted usage.

The values are constrained to a size of 1 kilobyte.

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Recorder

This module records the current chat if asked so .

Data flow diagrams

Level 0 DFD

Level 0 dfd

This diagram represents the simple transaction of an user who attempts to connect to the chat server by giving his login credentials.

The user then authenticates the request and send s the result back.

Level 1 DFD

Level 1 DFD

This diagram explains three steps1) A login-validate couple

2) A connection Establish process

3) A search for Users Online/Logged in

Level 2 DFD

Level 2 DFD

This diagram shows all steps of dfd level 1 and has an additional role of “starting” a chat by selecting the required USER.

Constraints

Network constraintsThe main constraints involved here are the

speed and bandwidth of the network.Though the application is designed to work

on low bandwidth networks a certain minimum speed is required to ensure smooth and jitter-less voice chat.

The network faults also can be high depending on the nature of the underlying network.

Constraints

Interface

The main aim in designing the interface was to keep it simple and clear and avoid confusions and ambiguity.

Hence it was designed using java and thus doesn’t offer a highly sophisticated view.

Screen Shots

Screen Shots