Packet size optimization in peer-to-peer IPTV networking schemes

Peer-to-peer IP television (IPTV) system aims at delivering high quality digital video data over an IP based network; ultimately providing the customer with high-speed, accessible, personalized media content. However, the transmission of multimedia over an IP network poses several challenges and suitable Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms need to be employed in order to ensure the success of this technology. One way to address these challenges is to ensure that the payload size used for media transmission over IP networks is optimal. This project simulates IPTV packets using RTP/UDP protocols over different network scenarios, analyzes the impact of varying UDP payload size on network parameters such as End-to-End Delay, Network Throughput and output Video Quality metrics and proposes an optimal range for UDP payload sizes that maybe used over an IPTV system. Analysis is conducted on architectures over which Unicast Transmissions, Background traffic, Multicast Transmissions (using DVMRP & PIM-DM protocols) and Multistreaming sessions from Server(s) to Client(s) are implemented.