Session Description Pointer for RTP Media Stream Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) media streams lack self-describing capabilities, making it difficult for intermediate nodes in communication networks to monitor and interpret the structure and content of media streams, as session description information is typically conveyed out-of-band and in the control plane.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a session description pointer into the media stream, allowing intermediate nodes to retrieve metadata by back-mapping, using protocols like RTP/RTCP, which enables sophisticated analysis without pre-knowledge of metadata configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If session description information is conveyed out-of-band in the control plane, then protocol separation and control are improved, but intermediate node monitoring capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges session description information with media stream packets by embedding SDP attributes directly into RTP packet payloads. This combining allows intermediate nodes to access session descriptions through the media plane without requiring separate control plane communication, thereby enabling monitoring while maintaining protocol separation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where session description pointers are embedded within media packets, acting as a bridge between the control plane session information and the media plane transmission. This intermediary approach allows intermediate nodes to retrieve session descriptions through the media stream without breaking the out-of-band control plane architecture.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If session description information is embedded in the media stream, then intermediate node monitoring capability is improved, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments session description information into discrete attributes that can be individually embedded in RTP packets. Each SDP attribute is treated as a separate entity that can be independently inserted, managed, and retrieved, reducing the complexity of handling the entire session description as a monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary embedding of session description pointers in media packets at the source node before transmission. This advance preparation allows intermediate nodes to simply retrieve and process the embedded information without performing complex session description construction or parsing operations, thereby reducing protocol complexity at intermediate nodes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If back-mapping is used to retrieve session description, then intermediate node analysis capability is improved, but information retrieval overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds session description pointers directly in media packets at the source node in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for intermediate nodes to perform time-consuming queries to external controllers or reconstruct session descriptions, as all necessary pointer information is already available within the media stream itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables media packets to carry their own session description pointers, making the media stream self-describing. Intermediate nodes can retrieve session information directly from the packets without requiring external control plane assistance, allowing the system to serve its own information needs without additional overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes constructing at a source node, a session description pointer to a session description for a media session, inserting the session description pointer in a packet in a media stream of the media session, and transmitting the packet to a receiver node. The session description pointer is configured for use in obtaining the session description by an intermediate node located between the source node and the receiver node. An apparatus is also disclosed.