Analyzing IP Protocols for Network Universes

Problem Statement. The intensive development of networked universes and virtual worlds is accompanied by new challenges for network infrastructure. IP protocols, as the backbone of digital interaction, face a number of limitations, including high latency, insufficient scalability, security vulnerabilities, and the complexity of managing diverse traffic. The aim of this paper is to comprehensively analyse IP protocols (IPv4 / IPv6, UDP / TCP / QUIC) and modern technologies (edge computing, blockchain) in the context of their applicability to digital ecosystems. The research methods include network traffic monitoring, load modelling and comparative analysis of protocol characteristics in virtual environments. The scientific novelty lies in the integration of a cross-disciplinary approach to the evaluation of network protocols in multi-user digital worlds. The results of the study consist in identifying critical limitations of existing solutions and formulating recommendations to overcome them, such as transition to IPv6 protocol, introduction of QUIC protocol, use of edge computing and blockchain technologies. The practical significance of the study is expressed in the possibility of applying the obtained recommendations to design sustainable, scalable and secure infrastructures of network universes.