Swarm synchronization for multi-recipient multimedia streaming

IP networks allow constructing versatile device configurations for multimedia streaming. However, the stochastic nature of the packet-switched data transmission may complicate IP-based implementations of some conventional applications such as analog wired transmission of synchronized multi-channel audio. This paper introduces a multimedia streaming system based on the synchronization of multiple playback clients as a `swarm'. The proposed `swarm synchronization' mechanism is based on precise clock synchronization with the PTP protocol and adjusting the client-specific sampling rates according to the true playback rates of other clients. A streamlined version of the RTP protocol is employed to minimize playout delay. The proposed system is empirically evaluated in wired Ethernet LAN and in wireless IEEE 802.11g LAN. The experimental results show that in the Ethernet network the proposed streaming system is able to achieve very precise synchronization.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2009
• Where: ICMCS
• Authors: Mika Rautiainen, Hannu Aska, Timo Ojala, Matti Hosio, Aki Mäkivirta, Niko Haatainen
• Keywords: Analog Wired Transmission, ICMCS 2009, Multimedia, Precise Clock Synchronization, Synchronization