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RTP/I is an application level real-time protocol for distributed interactive media. Typical examples of distributed interactive media are shared whiteboards, networked computer games and distributed virtual environments. RTP/I defines a standardized framing for the transmission of data and provides mechanisms that are universally needed for this media class. Thereby RTP/I enables the development of reusable functionality and generic services that can be employed for multiple distributed interactive media. Examples for this kind of functionality are the ability to record sessions, to support late coming participants, and to provide security services. RTP/I is a protocol that follows the ideas of application level framing and integrated layer processing. It has been designed to be independent of the underlying network and transport layers. To a large extend RTP/I has been inspired by the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP), which is used for the transmission of continuous non-interactive media, such as audio and video.

Originally RTP/I started out as a profile for RTP. However, our experiences have shown that an RTP profile does not provide a good fit for distributed interactive media. Furthermore there is a very interesting research note by C. Perkins and J. Crowcroft containing lots of arguments on why not to use RTP for distributed interactive media: C. Perkins and J. Crowcroft. On the use of RTP for shared workspace applications. UCL-CS research note RN/99/108, University College London, 1999. The arguments presented in this research note as well as an in depth discussion with the authors convinced us to regard RTP/I as a separate protocol that reuses many aspects of RTP while it is thoroughly adapted to the specific needs of distributed interactive media.

If you are interested in RTP/I and/or if you would like to contribute to the development of RTP/I feel free to subscribe to the RTP/I mailing list or contact us directly.

mauve@informatik.uni.mannheim.de