Networked Metaverse Systems: Foundations, Gaps, Research Directions

TL;DR: This article examines the technical foundations of Metaverse systems, highlighting current challenges and gaps in communication, networking, and architecture, and proposes a vision for future Metaverse infrastructure with suggested research directions.

Abstract: This article discusses ‘Metaverse’ from a technical perspective, focusing on networked systems aspects. Based on a technical definition of the ‘Metaverse,’ we examine the current state and challenges in communication and networking within Metaverse systems. We describe the state-of-the-art in different enabling Metaverse technologies and provide a technical analysis of current Metaverse system architectures. We then detail the state-of-the-art and the gaps in four areas: communication performance, mobility, large-scale operation, and end system architecture. Based on our analysis, we formulate a vision for future Metaverse infrastructure, outlining goals, design concepts, and suggested research directions.