The Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) RTSP is industry standard Internet Application

level Protocol.

RTSP is a framework for the delivery & transmissions of:

Multicast data streams

Multicast Radio, text & Video

RTSP Features RTSP works in conjunction with RTP to deliver

streaming video, audio and text content.

RTSP maintains a server state during transmission unlike HTTP.

Server-client architecture.

Avoids shortfalls/limitations in HTTP.

RTSP provides synchronisation of events.

Enhancement of HTTP functions.

RTSP Features ( Cont)

Real time or near real time system. RTSP stream control working with RTP as the

media transport protocol. Internet standard Device control – e.g camera zoom remotely Load balancing using bidirectional connection. Virtual presentations, synchronised playback

from multiple servers.

RTSP Functionality

Client - server & server- client

Multimedia-demand for continuous mode.

Multicast operation & address.

Independent stream file format or combinations of subsets.

Ability to mix media, audio, images, video & text as part of a stream.

RTSP Applications

Streaming of multi-media via Internet

Video conferencing & lectures.

Broadcasting of entertainment.

Remote digital editing

Voice mail

RTSP example session

TCP connection= RTSP session= session maintained.

One TCP connection per session bidirectional.

UDP= Multicast, low latency & live events.

RTSP Diagram

Webbrowser

MediaPlayer

Server

Server

RTSP StreamingMedia

HTTP

RTSP

RTP

Audio/video content

Streaming commands

Meta files

Web server

Meta file

RTSP Methods

OPTIONS- obtain available methods SETUP- Establish transport

ANNOUNCE- alter description of media object. DESCRIBE- get low level description of media object. PLAY- start playback. RECORD- Start recording PAUSE- suspend delivery, keep state SET_PARIMETER- device or encoding control TEARDOWN- remove state.

RTSP Limitations

Bandwidth: 64 – 128 kb/s for talking heads, 1.5Mb/s for movies

Quality: packet loss, predictability

Reliability: makes CATV look good

Billing Infrastructure: pay-per-view?

Cheap Receivers: shouldn’t cost more than set-top box