Hi,
I had the same problem as you did when I started this assignment. First, you need to get familar with some of the topics that required:
1.RMI, there is a tutorial provided by Sun
2.Multiple
thread 3.SWING
4.Design
pattern, but avoid a design pattern showcase, only those that necessary
...
Anytime you have a problem, check this forum, remember, any problem you have, you are not alone. Pay more attention to those posts by Peter, Max, Mark, Eugene, Sai...
A good book is always a good start, I recommend Max' book. Keep things simple. Learning is life-long journey, our goal is to get certified. Sometime I felt I will never finish this assignment after I read some of the posts.
Good luck
Kevin