Optimising thin clients for wireless computing via localization of keyboard activity

Abstract

The thin client model is based on the classic client-server model with all client activity processed at the server. This model can be exploited for providing an application-independent solution for mobile computing where powerful fixed servers serve mobile thin client devices with poor computing resources. However high latency in the wireless connection can lead to delay in display of keyboard and mouse activities, thereby affecting the performance of the thin client. This can be remedied by handling certain client activities locally, which will not only mitigate latency's ill effects but also reduce the volume of exchanged messages passed. This paper presents an implementation and performance evaluation of a thin client system that locally processes keyboard activities during periods of high network latency.