Content
Real-time video streaming has become an essential part of modern life. From live broadcasts of sports events and concerts to educational video courses and corporate events, real-time streaming has become an integral part of the information environment. Supporting real-time streams requires an understanding of key aspects, including monitoring, latency optimization, and broadcast quality management.
Real-Time Streaming Technologies
RTMP
Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) is a protocol developed by Adobe for transmitting audio, video, and data between a client and a server. RTMP uses a persistent TCP connection, ensuring low latency and high-quality streaming. However, due to its dependence on Flash technology, RTMP is losing relevance as many modern browsers and devices do not support Flash.
WebRTC
Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is a technology that enables audio, video, and data exchange between browsers and applications without delays and additional plugins. WebRTC is an open standard and uses UDP and SCTP protocols for data transmission. WebRTC provides low latency and good performance but may require additional infrastructure for scalability support.
HLS and DASH
HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) and Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) are adaptive streaming technologies that segment video into small chunks and transmit them via HTTP requests. They adapt the broadcast quality based on the user’s bandwidth and device capabilities. HLS was developed by Apple, while DASH is an open standard. Although these technologies provide better compatibility with various devices and browsers, they may have higher latency compared to RTMP and WebRTC.
Key Aspects of Streaming Support
Monitoring and Analytics
To ensure reliability and high-quality streaming, it is important to track various parameters, such as latency, performance, concurrent viewers, etc. Analytical tools can provide information about issues during streaming and help to quickly resolve them.
Latency Optimization
Latency is a critical parameter for real-time streams, especially for interactive events. Latency optimization includes using suitable streaming technologies, managing bandwidth, and buffering data. It is essential to choose a technology that provides an optimal balance of latency and compatibility for a specific use case.
Broadcast Quality Management
Users expect high-quality video and audio during streams. Broadcast quality management includes maintaining stable data transfer rates, adaptively changing video quality based on network conditions and device capabilities, and ensuring reliable and secure data transmission.
Streaming Technology Comparison Table
| Technology | Latency | Compatibility | Scalability | Adaptivity |
| RTMP | Low | Medium | High | No |
| WebRTC | Low | High | Medium | No |
| HLS | High | High | High | Yes |
| DASH | High | High | High | Yes |
Conclusion
Supporting real-time streams requires knowledge of various streaming technologies and an understanding of key aspects such as monitoring, latency optimization, and broadcast quality management. The choice of suitable technology for a specific use case depends on latency, compatibility, and scalability requirements.
In general, RTMP and WebRTC are most suitable for low-latency scenarios, while HLS and DASH are better suited for scenarios requiring high compatibility and adaptivity. However, selecting a technology is just the beginning: successful real-time streaming support also involves monitoring and analyzing data, optimizing latency, and managing broadcast quality.
