ACN MODULE 5

Why multimedia networking?

Multimedia networking provides the skills needed to set up, troubleshoot and
maintain computer systems configured for a visual communication and computer
graphics environment. Multimedia information networking is a composite field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFKLZ-hvvro

A multimedia networking application is a software program

or system that facilitates the transmission, sharing, and
consumption of multimedia content over computer networks.
These applications enable users to interact with multimedia
content, such as audio, video, images, and data, over the
internet or local networks. Here are some common
multimedia networking applications:

1. **Video Streaming Services:** Video streaming

applications, like Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu, allow users to
watch videos in real-time over the internet. These services
use multimedia networking technologies to deliver high-
quality video content to users' devices while adjusting the
quality based on their internet connection.

2. **Online Gaming:** Online gaming applications leverage

multimedia networking to enable players from different
locations to interact and play games together in real-time.
These applications require low latency and high bandwidth to
provide smooth gameplay experiences.
3. **Video Conferencing:** Video conferencing applications
like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet allow users to
conduct virtual meetings, webinars, and conferences,
incorporating audio, video, and screen sharing capabilities
over networks.

4. **Social Media Platforms:** Social media applications

utilize multimedia networking to enable users to share and
view various multimedia content, such as photos, videos, live
streams, and stories, with their friends, followers, or the
public.

5. **Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Applications:** VoIP

applications like Skype and WhatsApp enable users to make
voice and video calls over the internet, often using
multimedia networking protocols to ensure clear and reliable
communication.

6. **Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS):** MMS

applications allow users to send multimedia content, such as
photos, videos, and audio messages, to each other using
mobile networks or internet-based messaging platforms.

7. **Content Delivery Networks (CDNs):** CDNs are a type of

multimedia networking application that distribute
multimedia content efficiently by replicating and delivering it
from servers located in different geographical regions. This
reduces latency and improves the overall performance of
multimedia applications.

8. **Online Radio and Music Streaming Services:** Music

streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora
use multimedia networking to deliver audio content to users'
devices over the internet, offering a vast library of songs and
playlists.
9. **Live Streaming Platforms:** Live streaming applications,
such as Twitch and Facebook Live, allow users to broadcast
live video and audio content to a global audience in real-time,
often incorporating live chat and interaction features.
10. **Web Conferencing Systems:** Web conferencing
applications and systems enable users to conduct online
meetings, seminars, and virtual classrooms with multimedia
elements like slide presentations, videos, and interactive
whiteboards.

These multimedia networking applications demonstrate the

diverse ways in which multimedia content is transmitted and
shared over networks, enriching communication,
entertainment, and collaborative experiences for users
worldwide.
Streaming stored video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6nFkq8psDU

Streaming stored video refers to the process of delivering

pre-recorded video content to users in real-time over a
network, typically the internet. Unlike traditional file
downloads, where users have to wait for the entire video to
download before playing it, streaming allows users to start
watching the video almost immediately, even if the download
is not yet complete. This is achieved by sending the video
data in small, manageable chunks, which the user's device
can start playing as they are received.

The streaming process involves the following key

components:

1. **Video Server:** The video content is stored on a

dedicated server that is optimized for delivering multimedia
content. The video server is responsible for handling requests
from users and transmitting the video data to their devices.

2. **Streaming Protocol:** Various streaming protocols are

used to deliver the video data efficiently. Common streaming
protocols include HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), Dynamic
Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), Real-Time Streaming
Protocol (RTSP), and Smooth Streaming.
3. **Media Player:** Users use media players or video player
applications to access and play the streamed video content.
These players are designed to understand and interpret the
streaming protocols used by the server.

4. **Buffering:** To ensure a smooth viewing experience,

media players typically buffer a small portion of the video
data before starting playback. Buffering allows the player to
store enough data in advance, reducing the risk of
interruptions due to network fluctuations.

5. **Adaptive Bitrate Streaming:** Many streaming systems

use adaptive bitrate streaming, where the video quality
adjusts dynamically based on the user's network conditions.
This ensures that users with varying internet speeds can still
watch the video without excessive buffering or stuttering.

6. **Content Delivery Network (CDN):** CDNs may be

utilized to optimize video delivery. CDNs distribute the video
content across multiple servers located in different
geographic locations, reducing latency and improving overall
streaming performance.

Advantages of streaming stored video:

- Users can start watching the video immediately without
waiting for the entire file to download.
- Content can be easily accessed from various devices like
smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.
- Streaming protocols allow adaptive quality, offering the best
viewing experience based on the user's internet connection.
- Content providers can control access to the video and
implement digital rights management (DRM) to protect
copyrighted material.

Popular video streaming services like Netflix, YouTube,

Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ use streaming stored
video technology to deliver a wide range of content to
millions of users worldwide.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP):

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make voice calls using
a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that

enables the transmission of voice and multimedia
communication over the internet or other IP-based networks.
Instead of using traditional analog telephone lines, VoIP
converts voice signals into digital data packets, which are
then sent over the internet to the recipient. It allows users to
make voice calls, conduct video conferences, and send
multimedia content (such as images and videos) over the
same network used for internet data transfer.

How VoIP / Internet Voice Works

VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are
calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before
it reaches the destination. VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a
special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. In addition,
wireless "hot spots" in locations such as airports, parks, and cafes allow you to connect to
the Internet and may enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly.

What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?

A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable
modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. A computer, adaptor,
or specialized phone is required. Some VoIP services only work over your computer or a
special VoIP phone, while other services allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a
VoIP adapter. If you use your computer, you will need some software and an inexpensive
microphone. Special VoIP phones plug directly into your broadband connection and operate
largely like a traditional telephone. If you use a telephone with a VoIP adapter, you'll be able
to dial just as you always have, and the service provider may also provide a dial tone.

Key components and features of VoIP:

1. **Codec:** VoIP uses audio codecs (compression and
decompression algorithms) to convert analog voice signals
into digital packets. Codecs help in efficient data compression
to reduce bandwidth consumption while maintaining
acceptable audio quality.
2. **Real-Time Communication:** VoIP is designed for real-
time communication, ensuring that the voice packets are
transmitted with minimal delay to maintain a natural
conversation flow.
3. **Internet Protocol (IP) Networks:** VoIP operates over IP-
based networks, including the public internet and private
local area networks (LANs). The use of IP networks allows for
a more cost-effective and flexible communication
infrastructure.
4. **Voice Quality:** The quality of VoIP calls can vary based
on the available bandwidth, network conditions, and the
codecs used. High-speed internet connections and advanced
codecs result in better voice quality.
5. **VoIP Phones or Softphones:** Users can make VoIP calls
using specialized VoIP phones or software-based softphones
installed on computers, smartphones, or tablets. Softphones
mimic traditional phone interfaces on the user's device.

6. **Session Initiation Protocol (SIP):** SIP is a signaling

protocol widely used in VoIP systems to initiate, modify, and
terminate communication sessions, including voice and video
calls.
7. **Integration with Other Media:** VoIP systems can often
integrate with other multimedia applications, such as video
conferencing and instant messaging, providing a
comprehensive communication platform.

8. **Cost-Effectiveness:** VoIP generally offers lower costs

for long-distance and international calls compared to
traditional telephony, as it uses the existing internet
infrastructure.
9. **Advanced Features:** VoIP systems can offer advanced
features like call forwarding, voicemail, call recording, call
waiting, caller ID, and more, enhancing user experience and
productivity.

10. **Mobile and Remote Accessibility:** VoIP enables

seamless communication even when users are away from
their physical office. They can access their VoIP services and
features from anywhere with an internet connection.

VoIP has revolutionized communication by making voice and

multimedia communication more accessible, flexible, and
cost-effective. It is widely used in businesses, households, and
various industries for both personal and professional
communication needs.
Real-time conversational applications
Real-time conversational applications, such as voice and
video calling, messaging, and video conferencing, rely on
various protocols to facilitate smooth and efficient
communication. These protocols ensure that data is
transmitted reliably and with low latency, providing a
seamless conversational experience for users. Here are some
of the key protocols used in real-time conversational
applications:
1. **Session Initiation Protocol (SIP):** SIP is a signaling
protocol commonly used for initiating, modifying, and
terminating communication sessions in real-time
applications. It is widely used in VoIP (Voice over IP) systems
and is essential for setting up voice and video calls.

2. **Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP):** RTP is used to

transport real-time audio and video data over IP networks. It
works in conjunction with SIP and other signaling protocols to
deliver media streams between participants in a
conversation.

3. **Real-Time Control Protocol (RTCP):** RTCP works in

tandem with RTP to provide feedback on the quality of the
media streams. It helps monitor and control the transmission,
reporting on statistics such as packet loss, jitter, and network
delay.

4. **Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP):**

XMPP is an XML-based protocol commonly used for instant
messaging and presence information. It allows for real-time
text messaging and presence updates, making it suitable for
chat-based conversational applications.

5. **Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC):** WebRTC is

an open-source project that enables real-time
communication directly in web browsers without requiring
any plugins or additional software. It supports audio and
video calling, as well as data sharing, making it popular for
web-based conversational applications.

6. **Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP):** While not

specifically designed for real-time communication, HTTP is
widely used for web-based messaging applications and push
notifications. Technologies like Long Polling and WebSockets
are used to achieve near real-time communication over HTTP.

7. **Inter-Asterisk eXchange (IAX):** IAX is a protocol used in

Asterisk-based PBX systems. It is designed for efficient
handling of VoIP calls, making it suitable for real-time voice
communication within a private network.

8. **Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and

Representational State Transfer (REST):** These are
application-layer protocols used for data exchange in real-
time applications. While they are not specifically designed for
real-time communication, they are often used for exchanging
data between client applications and servers in messaging
and collaboration systems.

9. **WebSocket:** WebSocket is a protocol that provides

full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP
connection. It allows for bidirectional communication
between client and server, making it well-suited for real-time
web-based chat and messaging applications.

10. **Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT):**

MQTT is a lightweight publish/subscribe messaging protocol,
often used in IoT (Internet of Things) applications. It can also
be adapted for real-time messaging and notifications in
conversational applications.

These protocols play a crucial role in enabling real-time

communication in various conversational applications,
allowing users to interact seamlessly with each other
regardless of their physical locations. Different applications
may use a combination of these protocols based on their
specific requirements and use cases.