RFC 1889 (rfc1889) - Page 1 of 75
RTP: A Transport Protocol for Real-Time Applications
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group Audio-Video Transport Working Group
Request for Comments: 1889 H. Schulzrinne
Category: Standards Track GMD Fokus
S. Casner
Precept Software, Inc.
R. Frederick
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center
V. Jacobson
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
January 1996
RTP: A Transport Protocol for Real-Time Applications
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
This memorandum describes RTP, the real-time transport protocol. RTP
provides end-to-end network transport functions suitable for
applications transmitting real-time data, such as audio, video or
simulation data, over multicast or unicast network services. RTP does
not address resource reservation and does not guarantee quality-of-
service for real-time services. The data transport is augmented by a
control protocol (RTCP) to allow monitoring of the data delivery in a
manner scalable to large multicast networks, and to provide minimal
control and identification functionality. RTP and RTCP are designed
to be independent of the underlying transport and network layers. The
protocol supports the use of RTP-level translators and mixers.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ........................................ 3
2. RTP Use Scenarios ................................... 5
2.1 Simple Multicast Audio Conference ................... 5
2.2 Audio and Video Conference .......................... 6
2.3 Mixers and Translators .............................. 6
3. Definitions ......................................... 7
4. Byte Order, Alignment, and Time Format .............. 9
5. RTP Data Transfer Protocol .......................... 10
5.1 RTP Fixed Header Fields ............................. 10
5.2 Multiplexing RTP Sessions ........................... 13
Schulzrinne, et al Standards Track