Client-Server Communication Protocol

Game: Five card stud

Basic Overview and goals: client as dumb as possible, server sending card information, doing data processing, initiating contact

Server must have 1 + 2(n) threads:

1) Listen for connections

2) Player 1 Connection

3) Player 2 Connection

Repeat 2-3 as many games as necessary. Must keep array in memory organize players.

To make this work, there must be shared memory between the two players. We need flags to signal when transfer of information occurred.

Player 1	Server	Player 2
Connects to server	Listens for connections (1)	Connects to server
	Sends connections to different sockets (2) (3)
Receives data (cards)	Deals, sends data to both	Receives data (cards)
Processes data, send bet	Waits on flag (1)	Processes data, wait
Wait	Waits on flag (2)	Send call/fold
	Send new round (repeat)

Transmitted data packets will have the following framework:

Type of Packet

Size of Packet

Remaining Packet Data

Types of Packets:

0 – Ping (also ping reply)

1 – New Round

2 – New Game

3 – Disconnect

4 – Login

5 – Message to other Player

6 – Bet time ran out