Abstract

OSRail will maintain property rights and players reputation through a F2F (Friend to Friend) peer network that has both individual and group management protocols. The network will maintain intellectual property rights through management protocols and group democratic processes. Individual property rights owners will retain veto rights on the use of their property by the group and will have membership in any group for that limited purpose. Player reputation is maintained automatically with network participation and group use of player art/media asset. Player reputation can also be modified through group democratic processes.

Introduction

The primary purpose of the network is to enable network play of the Game/Simulation. The size of the group playing the game is assumed to be small, in the range of two to at most a few hundred. The general group members are divided into smaller groups having varying authorities related to the sub-group's purposes.

Database

Network

Network connections are established when one player publishes an IP/Port address reachable by the other players. This can be done with the others players public keys, either with e-mail or a web site connection. Once a connection is established to all players’ an IP/Port is exchanged. All idle time is filled with the exchange of group database information used to bring the players subversion repositories into synchronization.

Player Organization

• Chairmen of the Board
  

  The owner of the group can be removed only by a unanimous vote of the general group membership. In practices the more likely scenario is the group general membership will dwindle until there is no useful group willing to play with the chairman.

• Board Members
  

  The group leadership, a member can be removed by a majority vote of the other board members with the chairmen only voting to break ties. The board members will propose and vote on the group social and operation rules. Board members must consider proposes for rule addition or changes from the general membership. This is enforced by the automatic accumulation on the board members reputation.

• Railroad President
  

  This position is awarded through game play and represents the best economic or the most profitable player among the railroad division chiefs. The Railroad President can be changed anytime by majority vote of Board Members.

• Division Chiefs and Master Mechanic/Chief Engineer
  

  These positions are awarded through game play and represent the best Track/Road Masters, Yard Masters, Station Agents, Shop Foreman, Engineers, Fireman and Conductors of the railroads operating divisions.

Artist/Media Organization

• Owner
  

  The originator of an art/media asset – The owner has veto power over the use of any asset that is placed in the system by that owner. Permission can be added or withdrawn from any group network wide. The owner's reputation is automatically updating on the basis of his consistent behavior and the maintenance of his art/media assets.

• Route Master
  

  The originator of the collective art/media/data then makes up a route - The Route Master has veto power over the use of his route. Permission can be added or withdrawn from any group network wide. The Route Master's reputation is automatically updated on the basis of his consistent behavior and the maintenance of his route assets.

• Activity Master
  

  The originator of the collective data then makes up a route activity - The Activity Master has veto power over the use of his route activity. Permission can be added or withdrawn from any group network wide. The Activity Master's reputation is automatically updated on the basis of his consistent behavior and the maintenance of his activities.

• Era Master
  

  The Era Master is appointed by nomination and vote of the Board Members. The Era master has group wide veto power over the use of routes and equipment by the group. The Era Masters reputation is automatically updated on the basis of uses out of era equipment by the group.