A Framework for Collaborative Graphical Based Design Environments Wong Kok Seng {kswong@mmu.edu.my} Sellappan Palaniappan, Nor Adnan Yahaya {sell, noradnan}@must.edu.my Abstract Current Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools typically do not support collaborative work. When designers are geographically dispersed and with different time zones, real time collaboration can be a daunting task. A collaborative environment providing a platform for designers to communicate with one other more effectively is needed to address this problem. With this, instead of depending on telephone calls or emails, designers can interact among themselves in real time through computer-based support. Several studies have been done on collaborative computing. However, there are still no standard architecture styles for such an environment. This paper examines the use of a client- server based architecture to support collaborative environment for graphical based design tools. A design overview and the salient features of such a collaborative environment or system is presented. A prototype developed using Microsoft .NET Framework and Visual C# to demonstrate its viability is also discussed in this paper. 1. Introduction Architects, practitioners, designers, and researchers alike are all interested in how computer technology might be used effectively in the way they think and work. However, the yet to be addressed concern is how to use computers so that the design process can be done collaboratively [6]. This paper discusses a general framework for allowing designers to collaborate in a “virtual workspace”. With this, developers can communicate more effectively with one another when doing design work. It also helps project teams to move faster and share information efficiently. By sharing the same view of a design, designers from remote locations can simultaneously access and view each others design in real time. The framework is based on the Client-Server architecture which is shown to be comprehensive enough to support the development of a collaborative design environment, particularly one that uses graphical based design tools. 2. Current Problems and Limitations A project in collaborative work is normally divided into several parts and distributed to project members. All project members are responsible to keep contact with the team and expected to have ordinary meetings and discussions for the project [9]. However, ordinary meetings or discussions are not feasible for large-scale projects because some of the project members may be from different organizations or countries. Because of geographically dispersion, it is necessary to produce a solution, which enables all project members to work together without the constraints of location or time zone. Collaborative environment can be used to address the above problem. Members are now able to work together within a “virtual workspace” without the barriers of location and time. It will facilitate communication among project members resulting in better understanding among them. The design process will benefit from the improved communication. Current graphical based EDA and CASE tools such as Nimbus, Enterprise Architecture [10] are not fully supported in a network or distributed environment. They do not support designers to work collaboratively with other designers located remotely. There were many assumptions made by current generation of designers [4]. Current tools are only accessible by one designer at any point in time. The main reason for this problem is because all these tools do not support concurrent usage. Due to this, only one designer will control the entire design process. This happens in many organizations because the licensing fees are expensive. If only a single designer monitor a large project, it is hard for another project member to understand the overall design. This problem becomes worse when the person who controls the design process leaves the company or quits from the project. When a project involves more than one organization, some of the information or documents might not be Proceedings of the 16th International Workshop on Database and Expert Systems Applications (DEXA’05) 1529-4188/05 $20.00 © 2005 IEEE