Estimation of network conditions of individual paths in a multi-path connection involving a device not aware of multi-path signaling

摘要

MP-RTP and MP-RTCP (multi path real time transport and control protocols) allow streaming sources and sinks to communicate over multiple paths and for the performance of each individual path to be reported.Where the receiving device uses only the basic RTP and RTCP protocols it is unaware of multiple paths and cannot report on performance of each path, only on the performance of all the paths aggregated together.The invention injects traffic onto each path in turn 301 to test their individual performance before using the multipath 302 [Fig. 3a] Alternatively [Fig. 3b], the invention tests a first path 303 and then uses it for traffic 304. In parallel with the traffic tests are carried out on a second path 305 whose performance is inferred from differences between first path performance and total path performance. The second path can now carry traffic 306 and the process repeated for further paths 307,308.The invention may prefer paths with stable characteristics for the multipath streaming.