RTSPRTPbased

RTSPRTPbased refers to a streaming approach that combines Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) for session control with Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) for the delivery of media data. This combination is commonly used to stream live and on-demand audio and video over IP networks, with RTSP handling the setup, control, and teardown of sessions, and RTP carrying the actual media payload.

In a typical RTSPRTPbased workflow, a client communicates with an RTSP server using RTSP methods such as DESCRIBE, SETUP, PLAY, PAUSE, and TEARDOWN. DESCRIBE returns an SDP description that specifies the media streams, codecs, and transport options. SETUP negotiates how the media will be transported (RTP over UDP or RTP over TCP, with optional interleaving). After the negotiation, PLAY starts the continuous delivery of RTP packets, while RTCP provides quality feedback and monitoring information. The separation of control and data planes allows precise timing and synchronization of multiple media streams.

Transport may use UDP for low latency or TCP (interleaved in RTSP) to traverse firewalls and NATs. RTSP over TLS (RTSPS) can secure the signaling channel, and RTP can be protected with SRTP for encryption and integrity. Authentication mechanisms in RTSP, along with secure transport options, address access control and confidentiality.

Common use cases include IP cameras, surveillance systems, and streaming servers that require selective access to streams and precise start/stop control. Limitations include firewall and NAT traversal challenges, potential complexity, and reliance on compatible RTSP/RTP implementations. RTSPRTPbased remains a foundational, widely implemented method for real-time media streaming in many multimedia ecosystems.