Negotiating Media Multiplexing Using the Session Description Protocol (SDP)
EricssonHirsalantie 1102420JorvasFinlandchrister.holmberg@ericsson.comGoogleKungsbron 2Stockholm11122Swedenharald@alvestrand.noCisco400 3rd Avenue SW, Suite 350CalgaryABT2P 4H2Canadafluffy@iii.ca
Transport
MMUSIC Working GroupRTPSDPBundleMultiplexingRTCWEBCLUERTCWEBMMUSICAVTWEBBrowser
This specification defines a new Session Description
Protocol (SDP) Grouping Framework
extension, 'BUNDLE'. The extension can be used with the
SDP Offer/Answer mechanism to negotiate the usage of a
single address:port combination (BUNDLE address) for receiving media,
referred to as bundled media, associated with multiple
SDP media descriptions ("m=" lines).
To assist endpoints in negotiating the use of bundle this
specification defines a new SDP attribute, 'bundle-only',
which can be used to request that specific media is only
used if bundled. This specification also updates sections
5.1, 8.1 and 8.2 of RFC 3264 to allow an answerer to assign a
non-zero port value to an "m=" line in an SDP answer,
even if the "m=" line in the associated SDP offer
contained a zero port value.
There are multiple ways to correlate the bundled RTP
packets with the appropriate media descriptions. This
specification defines a new RTCP source description (SDES)
item and a new RTP header extension that provides an additional
way to do this correlation by using them to carry a value that
associates the RTP/RTCP packets with a specific media
description.
This specification defines a way to use a single address:port combination (BUNDLE address) for
receiving media associated with multiple SDP media descriptions ("m=" lines).
This specification defines a new SDP Grouping Framework extension called 'BUNDLE'. The extension can be used with the Session Description
Protocol (SDP) Offer/Answer mechanism
to negotiate the usage of a BUNDLE group. Within the BUNDLE group, a BUNDLE address is used
for receiving media associated with multiple "m=" lines. This is referred to as bundled media.
The offerer and answerer use
the BUNDLE extension to negotiate the BUNDLE addresses, one for the offerer (offerer BUNDLE
address) and one for the answerer (answerer BUNDLE address), to be used for receiving
the bundled media associated with a BUNDLE group. Once the offerer and the answerer have
negotiated a BUNDLE group, they assign their respective BUNDLE address to each "m=" line
in the BUNDLE group. The BUNDLE addresses are used to receive all media associated with
the BUNDLE group.
The use of a BUNDLE group and a BUNDLE address also allows the usage of a single set of
Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE)
candidates for multiple "m=" lines.
This specification also defines a new SDP attribute, 'bundle-only', which can be used to
request that specific media is only used if kept within a BUNDLE group.
As defined in RFC 4566 , the
semantics of assigning the same port value to multiple "m=" lines are undefined, and there is no
grouping defined by such means. Instead, an explicit grouping mechanism needs to be used to
express the intended semantics. This specification provides such an extension.
This specification also updates sections 5.1, 8.1 and 8.2 of RFC 3264 . The update allows an answerer to assign a non-zero port value to an "m=" line in an
SDP answer, even if the "m=" line in the associated SDP offer contained a zero port value.
This specification also defines a new Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) SDES item and a new RTP header extension that
can be used to carry a value that associates RTP/RTCP packets with a specific media
description. This can be used to correlate a RTP packet with the correct media.
SDP bodies can contain multiple BUNDLE groups. A given BUNDLE address MUST only be associated
with a single BUNDLE group. The procedures in this specification apply independently to a given
BUNDLE group. All RTP based media flows associated with a single BUNDLE group belong to a single
RTP session .
The BUNDLE extension is backward compatible. Endpoints that do not support the extension
are expected to generate offers and answers without an SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute, and
are expected to assign a unique address to each "m=" line within an offer and answer, according
to the procedures in and
5-tuple: A collection of the following values: source address, source port,
destination address, destination port, and transport-layer protocol.
Unique address: An IP address and port combination that is assigned to
only one "m=" line in an offer or answer.
Shared address: An IP address and port combination that is assigned to
multiple "m=" lines within an offer or answer.
Offerer BUNDLE-tag: The first identification-tag in a given
SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute identification-tag list in an offer.
Answerer BUNDLE-tag: The first identification-tag in a given
SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute identification-tag list in an answer.
Offerer BUNDLE address: Within a given BUNDLE group, an IP address and
port combination used by an offerer to receive all media associated
with each "m=" line within the BUNDLE group.
Answerer BUNDLE address: Within a given BUNDLE group, an IP address and
port combination used by an answerer to receive all media associated
with each "m=" line within the BUNDLE group.
BUNDLE group: A set of "m=" lines, created using an SDP Offer/Answer
exchange, which uses the same BUNDLE address for receiving media.
Bundled "m=" line: An "m=" line, whose identification-tag
is placed in an SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute identification-tag list
in an offer or answer.
Bundle-only "m=" line: A bundled "m=" line with an associated
SDP 'bundle-only' attribute.
Bundled media: All media associated with a given BUNDLE group.
Initial offer: The first offer, within an SDP session (e.g. a SIP dialog
when the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is used to carry SDP), in which
the offerer indicates that it wants to create a given BUNDLE group.
Subsequent offer: An offer which contains a BUNDLE group that
has been created as part of a previous offer/answer exchange.
Identification-tag: A unique token value that is used to identify an
"m=" line. The SDP 'mid' attribute , associated with an "m=" line, carries
an unique identification-tag. The session-level SDP 'group' attribute
carries a list
of identification-tags, identifying the "m=" lines associated with that
particular 'group' attribute.
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
"SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14, RFC 2119 .
The mechanism in this specification only applies to the Session
Description Protocol (SDP) , when used together with the SDP offer/answer
mechanism .
Declarative usage of SDP is out of scope of this document, and is
thus undefined.
This section defines a new SDP Grouping Framework extension
, 'BUNDLE'. The
BUNDLE extension can be used with the SDP Offer/Answer mechanism to negotiate
the usage of a single address:port combination (BUNDLE address) for receiving bundled media.
A single address:port combination is also used for sending bundled media. The address:port
combination used for sending bundled media MAY be the same as the BUNDLE address, used to receive
bundled media, depending on whether symmetric RTP is used. A given address:port combination MUST
NOT be used for sending media associated with multiple BUNDLE groups.
All media associated with a BUNDLE group share a single 5-tuple, i.e. in addition
to using a single address:port combination all bundled media MUST be transported using the same
transport-layer protocol (e.g. UDP or TCP).
The BUNDLE extension is indicated using an SDP 'group' attribute
with a "BUNDLE" semantics value . An identification-tag is assigned to each bundled
"m=" line, and each identification-tag is listed in the SDP 'group:BUNDLE'
attribute identification-tag list. Each "m=" line, whose identification-tag
is listed in the identification-tag list, is associated with a given
BUNDLE group.
SDP bodies can contain multiple BUNDLE groups. Any given bundled "m="
line MUST NOT be associated with more than one BUNDLE group.
defines the
detailed SDP Offer/Answer procedures for the BUNDLE extension.
This section defines a new SDP media-level attribute , 'bundle-only'.
In order to ensure that an answerer that does not supports the BUNDLE extension always
rejects a bundled "m=" line, the offerer can assign a zero port value to the "m="
line. According to an answerer
will reject such "m=" line.
By associating an SDP 'bundle-only' attribute with such "m=" line, the offerer can
request that the answerer accepts the "m=" line if the answerer supports the Bundle
extension, and if the answerer keeps the "m=" line within the associated BUNDLE group.
NOTE: Once an offerer BUNDLE address has been selected, the offerer can ensure that an
bundled "m=" line is accepted by the answerer only if the answerer keeps the "m=" line within
the associated BUNDLE group by assigning the offerer BUNDLE address to the "m=" line. If
the answerer does not keep that "m=" line within the BUNDLE group, the answerer will reject
it. Therefore, the SDP 'bundle-only' attribute is not needed in such cases
The usage of the 'bundle-only' attribute is only defined for a bundled "m=" line with
a zero port value, within an offer. Other usage is unspecified.
defines the detailed SDP
Offer/Answer procedures for the 'bundle-only' attribute.
This section describes restrictions associated with the usage of
SDP parameters within a BUNDLE group. It also describes, when parameter
and attribute values have been associated with each bundled "m=" line, how to
calculate a value for the whole BUNDLE group.
The "c=" line nettype value associated with a bundled "m=" line MUST be 'IN'.
The "c=" line addrtype value associated with a bundled "m=" line MUST be 'IP4' or
'IP6'. The same value MUST be associated with each "m=" line.
NOTE: Extensions to this specification can specify usage of the BUNDLE
mechanism for other nettype and addrtype values than the ones listed above.
An offerer and answerer MUST use the rules and restrictions defined
in for when
associating the SDP bandwidth (b=) line with bundled "m=" lines.
An offerer and answerer MUST use the rules and restrictions defined
in for when
associating SDP attributes with bundled "m=" lines.
This section describes the SDP Offer/Answer procedures for:
Negotiating and creating of a BUNDLE group;
Selecting the BUNDLE addresses (offerer BUNDLE address and answerer BUNDLE address);
Adding an "m=" line to a BUNDLE group;
Moving an "m=" line out of a BUNDLE group; and
Disabling an "m=" line within a BUNDLE group.
The generic rules and procedures defined in and
also apply to the BUNDLE extension. For example, if an offer is rejected
by the answerer, the previously negotiated SDP parameters and characteristics
(including those associated with a BUNDLE group) apply. Hence, if an offerer
generates an offer in which the offerer wants to create a BUNDLE group,
and the answerer rejects the offer, the BUNDLE group is not created.
The procedures in this section are independent of the media type or
"m=" line proto value represented by a bundled "m=" line.
defines additional
considerations for RTP based media.
defines
additional considerations for the usage of the SDP 'bundle-only' attribute.
defines additional
considerations for the usage of Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE)
mechanism .
The offerer and answerer MUST follow the rules and restrictions defined
in when
creating offers and answers.
SDP offers and answers can contain multiple BUNDLE groups. The procedures in this
section apply independently to a given BUNDLE group.
When an offerer generates an initial offer, in order to create a
BUNDLE group, it MUST:
Assign a unique address to each "m=" line within the offer,
following the procedures in , unless the media line is a 'bundle-only'
"m=" line (see below);
Add an SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute to the offer;
Place the identification-tag of each bundled "m=" line in the
SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute identification-tag list; and
Indicate which unique address the offerer suggests as the
offerer BUNDLE address [].
If the offerer wants to request that the answerer accepts a given bundled "m=" line only if
the answerer keeps the "m=" line within the BUNDLE group, the offerer MUST:
Associate an SDP 'bundle-only' attribute [] with the "m=" line; and
Assign a zero port value to the "m=" line.
NOTE: If the offerer assigns a zero port value to an "m=" line, but does not also associate an
SDP 'bundle-only' attribute with the "m=" line, it is an indication that the offerer wants
to disable the "m=" line [].
[] shows
an example of an initial offer.
In the offer, the address assigned to the "m=" line associated with the
offerer BUNDLE-tag indicates the address that the offerer suggests as
the offerer BUNDLE address.
When an answerer generates an answer, which contains a BUNDLE group, the following general
SDP grouping framework restrictions, defined in , also apply to the BUNDLE group:
The answerer MUST NOT include a BUNDLE group in the answer, unless the
offerer requested the BUNDLE group to be created in the associated offer; and
The answerer MUST NOT include an "m=" line within a BUNDLE group, unless
the offerer requested the "m=" line to be within that BUNDLE group in the
associated offer.
If the answer contains a BUNDLE group, the answerer MUST:
Select an Offerer BUNDLE Address []; and
Select an Answerer BUNDLE Address [];
The answerer is allowed to select a new Answerer BUNDLE address each time it
generates an answer to an offer.
If the answerer does not want to keep an "m=" line within a BUNDLE group, it MUST:
Move the "m=" line out of the BUNDLE group []; or
Reject the "m=" line [];
If the answerer keeps a bundle-only "m=" line within the BUNDLE group,
it follows the procedures (assigns the answerer BUNDLE address to the "m="
line etc) for any other "m=" line kept within the BUNDLE group.
If the answerer does not want to keep a bundle-only "m=" line within the
BUNDLE group, it MUST reject the "m=" line [].
The answerer MUST NOT associate an SDP 'bundle-only' attribute with any
"m=" line in an answer.
NOTE: If a bundled "m=" line in an offer contains a zero port value, but the "m=" line does not contain
an SDP 'bundle-only' attribute, it is an indication that the offerer wants to disable the "m="
line [].
In an offer, the address (unique or shared) assigned to the bundled "m=" line
associated with the offerer BUNDLE-tag indicates the address that
the offerer suggests as the offerer BUNDLE address
[]. The answerer
MUST check whether that "m=" line fulfills the following criteria:
The answerer will not move the "m=" line out of the BUNDLE group
[];
The answerer will not reject the "m=" line []; and
The "m=" line does not contain a zero port value.
If all of the criteria above are fulfilled, the answerer MUST select the address
associated with the "m=" line as the offerer BUNDLE address. In the answer, the
answerer BUNDLE-tag represents the "m=" line, and the
address associated with the "m=" line in the offer becomes the offerer BUNDLE address.
If one or more of the criteria are not fulfilled, the answerer MUST select the next
identification-tag in the identification-tag list, and perform the same criteria
check for the "m=" line associated with that identification-tag. If there are no
more identification-tags in the identification-tag list, the answerer MUST NOT
create the BUNDLE group. In addition, unless the answerer rejects the whole offer,
the answerer MUST apply the answerer procedures for moving an "m=" line out of a
BUNDLE group []
to each bundled "m=" line in the offer when creating the answer.
[] shows an
example of an offerer BUNDLE address selection.
When the answerer selects a BUNDLE address for itself, referred to as the answerer
BUNDLE address, it MUST assign that address to each bundled "m=" line within the
created BUNDLE group in the answer.
The answerer MUST NOT assign the answerer BUNDLE address to an "m=" line that is
not within the BUNDLE group, or to an "m=" line that is within another BUNDLE group.
[] shows an example of an
answerer BUNDLE address selection.
When an answerer moves a "m=" line out of a BUNDLE group, it assigns an
address to the "m=" line in the answer based on the following rules:
In the associated offer, if the "m=" line contains a shared address (e.g. a
previously selected offerer BUNDLE address), the answerer MUST reject the
moved "m=" line [];
In the associated offer, if the "m=" line contains a unique address, the
answerer MUST assign a unique address also to the "m=" line in the answer; or
In the associated offer, if an SDP 'bundle-only' attribute is associated with
the "m=" line, and if the "m=" line contains a zero port value, the answerer
MUST reject the "m=" line [].
In addition, in either case above, the answerer MUST NOT place the
identification-tag, associated with the moved "m=" line, in the
SDP 'group' attribute identification-tag list associated with the BUNDLE group.
When an answerer rejects an "m=" line, it MUST assign an address with a zero port
value to the "m=" line in the answer, according to the procedures in .
In addition, the answerer MUST NOT place the identification-tag, associated with
the rejected "m=" line, in the SDP 'group' attribute identification-tag list
associated with the BUNDLE group.
When an offerer receives an answer, if the answer contains a BUNDLE group, the offerer
MUST check that any bundled "m=" line in the answer was indicated as bundled in the
associated offer. If there is no mismatch, the offerer MUST use the offerer BUNDLE address,
selected by the answerer [],
as the address for each bundled "m=" line.
NOTE: As the answerer might reject one or more bundled "m=" lines, or move a bundled
"m=" line out of a BUNDLE group, each bundled "m=" line in the offer might not be
indicated as bundled in the answer.
If the answer does not contain a BUNDLE group, the offerer MUST process the answer
as a normal answer.
When an offerer generates a subsequent offer, it MUST assign
the previously selected offerer BUNDLE address [], to each bundled "m=" line
(including any bundle-only "m=" line), except if:
The offerer suggests a new offerer BUNDLE address
[];
The offerer wants to add a bundled "m=" line to the BUNDLE group
[];
The offerer wants to move a bundled "m=" line out of the BUNDLE group
[]; or
The offerer wants to disable the bundled "m=" line [].
In addition, the offerer MUST select an offerer BUNDLE-tag
[]
associated with the previously selected offerer BUNDLE address, unless
the offerer suggests a new offerer BUNDLE address.
When an offerer generates an offer, in which it suggests a new
offerer BUNDLE address [], the offerer MUST:
Assign the address (shared address) to each "m=" line within the BUNDLE group; or
Assign the address (unique address) to one bundled "m=" line.
In addition, the offerer MUST indicate that the address is the
new suggested offerer BUNDLE address [].
NOTE: Unless the offerer assigns the new suggested offerer BUNDLE address to each
bundled "m=" line, it can assign unique addresses to any number of bundled "m="
lines (and the previously selected offerer BUNDLE address to any remaining bundled
"m=" line) if it wants to suggest multiple alternatives for the new offerer
BUNDLE address.
When an offerer generates an offer, in which it wants to add a bundled "m=" line
to a BUNDLE group, the offerer MUST:
Assign a unique address to the "m=" line;
Assign the previously selected offerer BUNDLE address to the "m=" line; or
If the offerer assigns a new (shared address) suggested offerer BUNDLE address to each
bundled "m=" line [], also assign that address to the
added "m=" line.
In addition, the offerer MUST extend the SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute identification-tag list with the
BUNDLE group []
by adding the identification-tag associated with the added "m=" line to the list.
NOTE: Assigning a unique address to the "m=" line allows the answerer
to move the "m=" line out of the BUNDLE group [], without having to reject the "m=" line.
If the offerer assigns a unique address to the added "m=" line, and if the offerer
suggests that address as the new offerer BUNDLE address [], the offerer BUNDLE-tag MUST represent
the added "m=" line [].
If the offerer assigns a new suggested offerer BUNDLE address to each bundled "m=" line
[], including the added
"m=" line, the offerer BUNDLE-tag MAY represent the added "m=" line
[].
[]
shows an example where an offerer sends an offer in order to
add a bundled "m=" line to a BUNDLE group.
When an offerer generates an offer, in which it wants to move a bundled "m=" line out
of a BUNDLE group it was added to in a previous offer/answer transaction, the offerer:
MUST assign a unique address to the "m=" line; and
MUST NOT place the identification-tag associated with the "m=" line in
the SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute identification-tag list associated with
the BUNDLE group.
NOTE: If an "m=" line, when being moved out of a BUNDLE group, is added to
another BUNDLE group, the offerer applies the procedures in
[] to
the "m=" line.
[]
shows an example of an offer for moving an "m=" line out of a BUNDLE group.
When an offerer generates an offer, in which it wants to disable a bundled "m=" line (added
to the BUNDLE group in a previous offer/answer transaction), the offerer:
MUST assign an address with a zero port value to the "m=" line,
following the procedures in ; and
MUST NOT place the identification-tag associated with the "m=" line in
the SDP 'group:BUNDLE' attribute identification-tag list associated with
the BUNDLE group.
[]
shows an example of an offer for disabling an "m=" line within a
BUNDLE group.
Each "m=" line within a BUNDLE group MUST use the same transport-layer protocol.
If bundled "m=" lines use different protocols on top of the transport-layer
protocol, there MUST exist a publicly available specification which describes
a mechanism, for this particular protocol combination, how to associate a
received packet with the correct protocol.
In addition, if a received packet can be associated with more than one
bundled "m=" line, there MUST exist a publically available specification which
describes a mechanism for associating the received packet with the correct "m=" line.
Section 5.1.2 of describes a
mechanism to identify the protocol of a received packet among the STUN, DTLS and SRTP protocols (in any combination).
If an offer or answer includes bundled "m=" lines that represent these protocols, the offerer
or answerer MUST support the mechanism described in , and no explicit negotiation is required in order to indicate support
and usage of the mechanism.
does not describe how to identify
different protocols transported on DTLS, only how to identify the DTLS protocol itself. If
multiple protocols are transported on DTLS, there MUST exist a specification describing a
mechanism for identifying each individual protocol. In addition, if a received DTLS packet
can be associated with more than one "m=" line, there MUST exist a specification which
describes a mechanism for associating the received DTLS packet with the correct "m=" line.
[] describes how to associate a received
(S)RTP packet with the correct "m=" line.
All RTP-based media within a single BUNDLE group belong to a
single RTP session . Disjoint BUNDLE groups will form multiple
RTP sessions, one per BUNDLE group.
Since a single RTP session is used for each bundle group, all
"m=" lines representing RTP-based media in a bundle group will
share a single SSRC numbering space .
The following rules and restrictions apply for a single RTP
session:
A specific payload type value can be used in multiple bundled "m=" lines
if each codec associated with the payload type number shares an identical
codec configuration [].
The proto value in each bundled RTP-based "m=" line MUST be identical
(e.g. RTP/AVPF).
The RTP MID header extension MUST be enabled, by associating
an SDP 'extmap' attribute ,
with a 'urn:ietf:params:rtp- hdrext:sdes:mid' URI value, with each
bundled RTP-based "m=" line in every offer and answer.
A given SSRC MUST NOT transmit RTP packets using payload types that
originate from different bundled "m=" lines.
NOTE: The last bullet above is to avoid sending multiple media types
from the same SSRC. If transmission of multiple media types are done
with time overlap, RTP and RTCP fail to function. Even if done in
proper sequence this causes RTP Timestamp rate switching issues
. However,
once an SSRC has left the RTP session (by sending an RTCP BYE packet),
that SSRC value can later be reused by another source(possible associated
with a different bundled "m=" line.
Multiple bundled "m=" lines might represent RTP based media. As all RTP based
media associated with a BUNDLE group belong to the same RTP session, in order
for a given payload type value to be used inside more than one bundled "m=" line,
all codecs associated with the payload type number MUST share an identical codec
configuration. This means that the codecs MUST share the same media type,
encoding name, clock rate and any parameter that can affect the codec configuration
and packetization. lists SDP attributes, whose attribute
values must be identical for all codecs that use the same payload type value.
There are multiple mechanisms that can be used by an endpoint in
order to associate received RTP/RTCP packets with a bundled "m=" line.
Such mechanisms include using the payload type value carried inside the
RTP packets, the SSRC values carried inside the RTP packets, and other
"m=" line specific information carried inside the RTP packets.
As all RTP/RTCP packets associated with a BUNDLE group are received (and sent)
using single address:port combinations, the local address:port combination cannot
be used to associate received RTP packets with the correct "m=" line.
As described in [],
the same payload type value might be used inside RTP packets described by
multiple "m=" lines. In such cases, the payload type value cannot be used to
associate received RTP packets with the correct "m=" line.
An offerer and answerer can in an offer and answer inform each other which
SSRC values they will use inside sent RTP/RTCP packets, by associating one or
more SDP 'ssrc' attributes with
each bundled "m=" line which contains a payload type value that is also used
inside another bundled "m=" line. As the SSRC values will be carried inside
the RTP/RTCP packets, the offerer and answerer can then use that information
to associate received RTP packets with the correct "m=" line. However, an
offerer will not know which SSRC values the answerer will use until it has
received the answer providing that information. Due to this, before the
offerer has received the answer, the offerer will not be able to associate
received RTP/RTCP packets with the correct "m=" line using the SSRC values.
In order for an offerer and answerer to always be able to associate received
RTP and RTCP packets with the correct "m=" line, an offerer and answerer using
the BUNDLE extension MUST support the mechanism defined in , where the remote endpoint inserts the
identification-tag associated with an "m=" line in RTP and RTCP packets
associated with that "m=" line.
When a BUNDLE group, which contains RTP based media, is created, the offerer
and answerer MUST negotiate whether to enable RTP/RTCP multiplexing
for the RTP based media associated with the BUNDLE group .
If RTP/RTCP multiplexing is not enabled, separate address:port combinations will
be used for receiving (and sending) the RTP packets and the RTCP packets.
This section describes how an offerer and answerer can use the SDP 'rtcp-mux' attribute
and the SDP 'rtcp' attribute
to negotiate usage of RTP/RTCP
multiplexing for RTP based media associated with a BUNDLE group.
When an offerer generates an initial offer, if the offerer wants to
negotiate usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing within a BUNDLE group, the
offerer MUST associate an SDP 'rtcp-mux' attribute
with
each bundled RTP-based "m=" line (including any bundle-only "m="
line) in the offer.
If the offerer does not want to negotiate usage of RTP/RTCP
multiplexing, it MUST NOT associate an SDP 'rtcp-mux' attribute
with any bundled "m=" line in the offer.
In addition, the offerer can associate an SDP
'rtcp' attribute
with one or more bundled RTP-based "m=" lines (including any bundle-only
"m=" line) in the offer, in order to provide a port for receiving
RTCP packets (if the answerer does not accept usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing,
or if the offerer does not want to negotiate usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing).
In the initial offer, the IP address and port combination for RTCP
MUST be unique in each bundled RTP-based "m=" line, similar to RTP.
NOTE: In case the offer wants to receive RTCP packets on the next
higher port value, the SDP 'rtcp' attribute is not needed.
When an answerer generates an answer, if the offerer indicated
support of RTP/RTCP multiplexing
within a BUNDLE group in the associated offer, the answerer MUST
either accept or reject the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing for the
whole BUNDLE group in the answer.
If the answerer accepts the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing within the
BUNDLE group, it MUST associate an SDP 'rtcp-mux' attribute with each
bundled RTP-based "m=" line in the answer. The answerer MUST NOT
associate an SDP 'rtcp' attribute with any bundled "m=" line in the
answer. The answerer will use the port value of the selected
offerer BUNDLE address for sending RTP and RTCP packets associated
with each RTP-based bundled "m=" line towards the offerer.
If the answerer does not accept the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing
within the BUNDLE group, it MUST NOT associate an SDP 'rtcp-mux'
attribute with any bundled "m=" line in the answer.
The answerer will use the RTP and RTCP port values associated with the
selected offerer BUNDLE address for sending RTP and RTCP packets
associated with each RTP-based bundled "m=" line towards the offerer.
In addition, if the answerer rejects the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing within
the BUNDLE group, it MAY associate an SDP 'rtcp' attribute, with identical
attribute values, with each RTP-based bundled "m=" line in the answer, in
order to provide a port value for receiving RTCP packets from the offerer.
NOTE: In case the answerer wants to receive RTCP packets on the next
higher port value, the SDP 'rtcp' attribute is not needed.
If the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing within a BUNDLE group has been
negotiated in a previous offer/answer transaction, and if the offerer indicates
that it wants to continue using RTP/RTCP multiplexing in a subsequent offer,
the answerer MUST associate an SDP 'rtcp-mux' attribute with each
bundled "m=" line in the answer. I.e. the answerer MUST NOT disable
the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing.
If the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing within a BUNDLE group has not been negotiated
in a previous offer/answer transaction, and if the offerer indicates that it
wants to use RTP/RTCP multiplexing in a subsequent offer, the answerer either
accepts or rejects the usage, using the procedures above.
When an offerer receives an answer, if the answerer has accepted
the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing (see ),
the answerer follows the procedures for RTP/RTCP multiplexing defined
in . The
offerer will use the port value associated with the answerer
BUNDLE address for sending RTP and RTCP packets associated with each
RTP-based bundled "m=" line towards the answerer.
If the answerer did not accept the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing
(see ), the offerer will use separate
address:port combinations for sending RTP and RTCP packets towards the answerer.
If the answerer associated an SDP 'rtcp' attribute with the "m=" line
representing the answerer BUNDLE address, the offerer will use the
attribute port value for sending RTCP packets associated with each
bundled RTP-based "m=" line towards the answerer. Otherwise the
offerer will use the next higher port value associated with the
answerer BUNDLE address for sending RTCP packets towards the answerer.
When an offerer generates a subsequent offer, if it wants to
negotiate the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing within a BUNDLE group, or if
it wants to continue the use of previously negotiated RTP/RTCP multiplexing,
it MUST associate an SDP 'rtcp-mux' attribute with each RTP-based bundled "m=" line
(including any bundled "m=" line that the offerer wants to add to the BUNDLE
group), unless the offerer wants to disable or remove the "m=" line from the
BUNDLE group.
If the offerer does not want to negotiate the usage of RTP/RTCP
multiplexing within the BUNDLE group, or if it wants to disable previously
negotiated usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing, it MUST NOT associate an
SDP 'rtcp-mux' and attribute with any bundled "m=" line in the subsequent offer.
In addition, if the offerer does not indicate support of RTP/RTCP multiplexing
within the subsequent offer, it MAY associate an SDP 'rtcp' attribute, with
identical attribute values, with each RTP-based bundled "m=" line (including any
bundled "m=" line that the offerer wants to add to the BUNDLE group), in order
to provide a port for receiving RTCP packets.
NOTE: It is RECOMMENDED that, once the usage of RTP/RTCP multiplexing has
been negotiated within a BUNDLE group, that the usage is not
disabled. Disabling RTP/RTCP multiplexing means that the offerer and
answerer need to reserve new ports, to be used for sending and
receiving RTCP packets. Similar, if the usage of a specific RTCP port
has been negotiated within a BUNDLE group, it is RECOMMENDED
that the port value is not modified.
This section describes how to use the BUNDLE grouping extension together
with the Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) mechanism .
The procedures defined in also apply
to usage of ICE with BUNDLE, with the following exception:
When BUNDLE addresses for a BUNDLE group have been selected for both endpoints, ICE
connectivity checks and keep-alives only need to be performed for the whole BUNDLE group,
instead of per bundled "m=" line.
Support and usage of ICE mechanism together with the BUNDLE extension is OPTIONAL.
When an offerer assigns a unique address to a bundled "m=" line (excluding
any bundle-only "m=" line), it MUST also associate unique ICE candidates to the "m=" line.
An offerer MUST NOT assign ICE candidates to a bundle-only "m=" line
with a zero port value.
NOTE: The bundle-only "m=" line, if accepted by the answerer, will inherit
the candidates associated with the selected offerer BUNDLE address. An answerer
that does not support BUNDLE would not accept a bundle-only "m=" line.
When an offerer or answerer assigns a shared address (i.e. a previously selected BUNDLE
address) to one or more bundled "m=" lines, it MUST associate identical ICE candidates
(referred to as shared ICE candidates) to each of those "m=" lines.
When an offerer generates an initial offer, it assigns unique or shared ICE candidates
to the bundled "m=" lines, according to .
When an answerer generates an answer, which contains a BUNDLE group,
the answerer MUST assign shared ICE candidates to each bundled "m=" line
(including "m=" lines that were indicated as bundle-only in the associated offer)
in the answer.
When an offerer receives an answer, if the answerer supports and uses the ICE
mechanism and the BUNDLE extension, the offerer MUST assign the same ICE candidates,
associated with the "m=" line representing the offerer BUNDLE address (selected by the
answerer), to each bundled "m=" line.
When an offerer generates a subsequent offer, it assigns unique or shared ICE
candidates to the bundled "m=" lines, according to ().
This section replaces the text of the following sections
of RFC 3264:
Section 5.1 (Unicast Streams).Section 8.2 (Removing a Media Stream).Section 8.4 (Putting a Unicast Media Stream on Hold).
For recvonly and sendrecv streams, the port number and address in the
offer indicate where the offerer would like to receive the media
stream. For sendonly RTP streams, the address and port number
indirectly indicate where the offerer wants to receive RTCP reports.
Unless there is an explicit indication otherwise, reports are sent to
the port number one higher than the number indicated. The IP address
and port present in the offer indicate nothing about the source IP
address and source port of RTP and RTCP packets that will be sent by
the offerer. A port number of zero in the offer indicates that the
stream is offered but MUST NOT be used. This has no useful semantics
in an initial offer, but is allowed for reasons of completeness,
since the answer can contain a zero port indicating a rejected stream
(Section 6). Furthermore, existing streams can be terminated by
setting the port to zero (Section 8). In general, a port number of
zero indicates that the media stream is not wanted.
For recvonly and sendrecv streams, the port number and address in the
offer indicate where the offerer would like to receive the media
stream. For sendonly RTP streams, the address and port number
indirectly indicate where the offerer wants to receive RTCP reports.
Unless there is an explicit indication otherwise, reports are sent to
the port number one higher than the number indicated. The IP address
and port present in the offer indicate nothing about the source IP
address and source port of RTP and RTCP packets that will be sent by
the offerer. A port number of zero in the offer by default indicates that the
stream is offered but MUST NOT be used, but an extension mechanism
might specify different semantics for the usage of a zero port value.
Furthermore, existing streams can be terminated by setting the port to
zero (Section 8). In general, a port number of zero by default indicates
that the media stream is not wanted.
A stream that is offered with a port of zero MUST be marked with port
zero in the answer. Like the offer, the answer MAY omit all
attributes present previously, and MAY list just a single media
format from amongst those in the offer.
A stream that is offered with a port of zero MUST by default be
marked with port zero in the answer, unless an extension mechanism,
which specifies semantics for the usage of a non-zero port value, is
used. If the stream is marked with port zero in the answer, the answer
MAY omit all attributes present previously, and MAY list
just a single media format from amongst those in the offer."
RFC 2543 [10] specified that placing a user on hold was accomplished
by setting the connection address to 0.0.0.0. Its usage for putting
a call on hold is no longer recommended, since it doesn't allow for
RTCP to be used with held streams, doesn't work with IPv6, and breaks
with connection oriented media. However, it can be useful in an
initial offer when the offerer knows it wants to use a particular set
of media streams and formats, but doesn't know the addresses and
ports at the time of the offer. Of course, when used, the port
number MUST NOT be zero, which would specify that the stream has been
disabled. An agent MUST be capable of receiving SDP with a
connection address of 0.0.0.0, in which case it means that neither
RTP nor RTCP should be sent to the peer.
RFC 2543 [10] specified that placing a user on hold was accomplished
by setting the connection address to 0.0.0.0. Its usage for putting
a call on hold is no longer recommended, since it doesn't allow for
RTCP to be used with held streams, doesn't work with IPv6, and breaks
with connection oriented media. However, it can be useful in an
initial offer when the offerer knows it wants to use a particular set
of media streams and formats, but doesn't know the addresses and
ports at the time of the offer. Of course, when used, the port
number MUST NOT be zero, if it would specify that the stream has been
disabled. However, an extension mechanism might specify different
semantics of the zero port number usage. An agent MUST be capable
of receiving SDP with a connection address of 0.0.0.0, in which case it
means that neither RTP nor RTCP should be sent to the peer.
SDP Offerers and Answerers
can associate identification-tags with "m=" lines within SDP Offers
and Answers, using the procedures in . Each identification-tag uniquely represents an "m=" line.
This section defines a new RTCP SDES item , 'MID', which is used to carry identification-tags within RTCP
SDES packets. This section also defines a new RTP header extension
, which is used to carry
identification-tags in RTP packets.
The SDES item and RTP header extension make it possible for a receiver to associate
received RTCP- and RTP packets with a specific "m=" line, to which the receiver has
assigned an identification-tag, even if those "m=" lines are part of the same RTP session.
The endpoint informs the remote endpoint about the identification-tag using the
procedures in , and the
remote endpoint then inserts the identification-tag in RTCP- and RTP packets sent
towards the other endpoint.
NOTE: This text above defines how identification-tags are carried in SDP Offers
and Answers. The usage of other signalling protocols for carrying identification-tags
is not prevented, but the usage of such protocols is outside the scope of this document.
defines general procedures
regarding the RTCP transmission interval. The RTCP MID SDES item SHOULD be sent in
the first few RTCP packets sent on joining the session, and SHOULD be sent regularly
thereafter. The exact number of RTCP packets in which this SDES item is sent is
intentionally not specified here, as it will depend on the expected packet loss
rate, the RTCP reporting interval, and the allowable overhead.
The RTP MID header extension SHOULD be included in some RTP packets at the start of
the session and whenever the SSRC changes. It might also be useful to include the
header extension in RTP packets that comprise random access points in the media
(e.g., with video I-frames). The exact number of RTP packets in which this header
extension is sent is intentionally not specified here, as it will depend on expected
packet loss rate and loss patterns, the overhead the application can tolerate, and
the importance of immediate receipt of the identification-tag.
For robustness purpose, endpoints need to be prepared for situations where the
reception of the identification-tag is delayed, and SHOULD NOT terminate sessions
in such cases, as the identification-tag is likely to arrive soon.
The identification-tag payload is UTF-8 encoded, as in SDP.
The identification-tag is not zero terminated.
[RFC EDITOR NOTE: Please replace TBD with the assigned SDES
identifier value.]
The payload, containing the identification-tag, of the RTP MID header extension element
can be encoded using either the one-byte or two-byte header . The identification-tag payload is UTF-8
encoded, as in SDP.
The identification-tag is not zero terminated. Note, that set of header extensions
included in the packet needs to be padded to the next 32-bit boundary using zero
bytes .
As the identification-tag is included in either an RTCP SDES item or an RTP header
extension, or both, there should be some consideration about the packet expansion
caused by the identification-tag. To avoid Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) issues
for the RTP packets, the header extension's size needs to be taken into account when
the encoding media.
It is recommended that the identification-tag is kept short. Due to the properties of
the RTP header extension mechanism, when using the one-byte header, a tag that is 1-3 bytes
will result in that a minimal number of 32-bit words are used for the RTP header extension,
in case no other header extensions are included at the same time. Note, do take into
account that some single characters when UTF-8 encoded will result in multiple octets.
[RFC EDITOR NOTE: Please replace RFCXXXX with the RFC number
of this document.]
[RFC EDITOR NOTE: Please replace TBD with the assigned SDES
identifier value.]
This document adds the MID SDES item to the IANA "RTCP SDES item
types" registry as follows:
[RFC EDITOR NOTE: Please replace RFCXXXX with the RFC number
of this document.]
This document defines a new extension URI in the RTP Compact Header
Extensions subregistry of the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)
Parameters registry, according to the following data:
[RFC EDITOR NOTE: Please replace RFCXXXX with the RFC number
of this document.]
This document defines a new SDP media-level attribute,
'bundle-only', according to the following data:
The security considerations defined in and apply to the BUNDLE
extension. Bundle does not change which information
flows over the network but only changes which ports that
information is flowing on and thus has very little
impact on the security of the RTP sessions.
When the BUNDLE extension is used, a single set of security credentials
might be used for all media streams associated with a BUNDLE group.
When the BUNDLE extension is used, the number of SSRC values within
a single RTP session increases, which increases the risk of SSRC
collision.
describes how SSRC collision may weaken SRTP and SRTCP encryption
in certain situations.
The example below shows:
1. An offer, in which the offerer assigns a unique address to each bundled "m=" line within the BUNDLE group.2. An answer, in which the answerer selects the offerer BUNDLE address, and in which selects its own BUNDLE
address (the answerer BUNDLE address) and assigns it each bundled "m=" line within the BUNDLE group.
The example below shows:
1. An offer, in which the offerer assigns a unique address to each bundled "m=" line within the BUNDLE group.2. An answer, in which the answerer rejects the offered BUNDLE group, and assigns a unique addresses
to each "m=" line (following normal RFC 3264 procedures).
The example below shows:
1. A subsequent offer (the BUNDLE group has been created as part of a previous offer/answer
transaction), in which the offerer adds a new "m=" line, represented by the "zen"
identification-tag, to a previously negotiated BUNDLE group, assigns a unique address
to the added "m=" line, and assigns the previously selected offerer BUNDLE address to
each of the other bundled "m=" lines within the BUNDLE group.2. An answer, in which the answerer assigns the answerer BUNDLE address to each
bundled "m=" line (including the newly added "m=" line) within the BUNDLE group.
The example below shows:
1. A subsequent offer (the BUNDLE group has been created as part of a previous offer/answer
transaction), in which the offerer moves a bundled "m=" line out of a BUNDLE group, assigns a unique address to
the moved "m=" line, and assigns the offerer BUNDLE address to each other bundled "m=" line within the BUNDLE group.2. An answer, in which the answerer moves the "m=" line out of the BUNDLE group, assigns unique address to
the moved "m=" line, and assigns the answerer BUNDLE address to each of the remaining bundled "m=" line within the BUNDLE group.
The example below shows:
1. A subsequent offer (the BUNDLE group has been created as part of a previous offer/answer
transaction), in which the offerer disables a bundled "m=" line within BUNDLE group, assigns a zero port number
to the disabled "m=" line, and assigns the offerer BUNDLE address to each of the other bundled
"m=" lines within the BUNDLE group.2. An answer, in which the answerer moves the disabled "m=" line out of the BUNDLE group, assigns a zero port value
to the disabled "m=" line, and assigns the answerer BUNDLE address to each of the remaining bundled "m=" line within
the BUNDLE group.
The usage of the SDP grouping extension for negotiating bundled media is
based on a similar alternatives proposed by Harald Alvestrand and Cullen
Jennings. The BUNDLE extension described in this document is based on
the different alternative proposals, and text (e.g. SDP examples)
have been borrowed (and, in some cases, modified) from those alternative
proposals.
The SDP examples are also modified versions from the ones in the Alvestrand
proposal.
Thanks to Paul Kyzivat, Martin Thomson, Flemming Andreasen, Thomas Stach and
Ari Keränen for taking the time to read the text along the way, and providing
useful feedback.
[RFC EDITOR NOTE: Please remove this section when publishing]Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-18
- Changes based on agreements at IETF#92-- BAS Offer removed, based on agreement at IETF#92.-- Procedures regarding usage of SDP "b=" line is replaced with a
reference to to draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-mux-attributes.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-17
- Editorial changes based on comments from Magnus Westerlund.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-16
- Modification of RTP/RTCP multiplexing section, based
on comments from Magnus Westerlund.- Reference updates.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-15
- Editorial fix.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-14
- Editorial changes.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-13
Changes to allow a new suggested offerer BUNDLE address
to be assigned to each bundled m- line.Changes based on WGLC comments from Paul Kyzivat- Editorial fixesChanges from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-12
Usage of SDP 'extmap' attribute addedSDP 'bundle-only' attribute scoped with "m=" lines with a zero port valueChanges based on WGLC comments from Thomas Stach- ICE candidates not assigned to bundle-only m- lines with a zero port value- Editorial changesChanges based on WGLC comments from Colin Perkins- Editorial changes:-- "RTP SDES item" -> "RTCP SDES item"-- "RTP MID SDES item" -> "RTCP MID SDES item"- Changes in section 10.1.1:-- "SHOULD NOT" -> "MUST NOT"-- Additional text added to the Note- Change to section 13.2:-- Clarify that mid value is not zero terminated- Change to section 13.3:-- Clarify that mid value is not zero terminated-- Clarify paddingChanges based on WGLC comments from Paul Kyzivat- Editorial changes:Changes based on WGLC comments from Jonathan Lennox- Editorial changes:- Defintion of SDP bundle-only attribute alligned with
structure in 4566bis draftChanges from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-11
Editorial corrections based on comments from Harald Alvestrand.Editorial corrections based on comments from Cullen Jennings.Reference update (RFC 7160).Clarification about RTCP packet sending when RTP/RTCP multiplexing
is not used (http://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/mmusic/current/msg13765.html).Additional text added to the Security Considerations.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-10
SDP bundle-only attribute added to IANA Considerations.SDES item and RTP header extension added to Abstract and Introduction.Modification to text updating section 8.2 of RFC 3264.Reference corrections.Editorial corrections.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-09
Terminology change: "bundle-only attribute assigned to m= line" to
"bundle-only attribute associated with m= line".Editorial corrections.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-08
Editorial corrections.- "of"->"if" (8.3.2.5).- "optional"->"OPTIONAL" (9.1).- Syntax/ABNF for 'bundle-only' attribute added.- SDP Offer/Answer sections merged.- 'Request new offerer BUNDLE address' section addedChanges from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-07
OPEN ISSUE regarding Receiver-ID closed.- RTP MID SDES Item.- RTP MID Header Extension.OPEN ISSUE regarding insertion of SDP 'rtcp' attribute in answers closed.- Indicating that, when rtcp-mux is used, the answerer MUST NOT include
an 'rtcp' attribute in the answer, based on the procedures in section 5.1.3 of
RFC 5761.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-06
Draft title changed.Added "SDP" to section names containing "Offer" or "Answer".Editorial fixes based on comments from Paul Kyzivat (http://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/mmusic/current/msg13314.html).Editorial fixed based on comments from Colin Perkins (http://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/mmusic/current/msg13318.html).- Removed text about extending BUNDLE to allow multiple RTP sessions within a BUNDLE group.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-05
Major re-structure of SDP Offer/Answer sections, to align with RFC 3264 structure.Additional definitions added.- Shared address.- Bundled "m=" line.- Bundle-only "m=" line.- Offerer suggested BUNDLE mid.- Answerer selected BUNDLE mid.Q6 Closed (IETF#88): An Offerer MUST NOT assign a shared address to multiple "m=" lines until it has
received an SDP Answer indicating support of the BUNDLE extension.Q8 Closed (IETF#88): An Offerer can, before it knows whether the Answerer supports the BUNDLE extension,
assign a zero port value to a 'bundle-only' "m=" line.SDP 'bundle-only' attribute section added.Connection data nettype/addrtype restrictions added.RFC 3264 update section added.Indicating that a specific payload type value can be used in multiple "m=" lines, if the value
represents the same codec configuration in each "m=" line.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-04
Updated Offerer procedures (http://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/mmusic/current/msg12293.html).Updated Answerer procedures (http://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/mmusic/current/msg12333.html).Usage of SDP 'bundle-only' attribute added.Reference to Trickle ICE document added.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-02
Mechanism modified, to be based on usage of SDP Offers
with both different and identical port number values, depending
on whether it is known if the remote endpoint supports the
extension.Cullen Jennings added as co-author.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-01
No changes. New version due to expiration.Changes from draft-ietf-mmusic-sdp-bundle-negotiation-00
No changes. New version due to expiration.Changes from draft-holmberg-mmusic-sdp-multiplex-negotiation-00
Draft name changed.Harald Alvestrand added as co-author."Multiplex" terminology changed to "bundle".Added text about single versus multiple RTP Sessions.Added reference to RFC 3550.
A Framework for SDP Attributes when Multiplexing
Cisco
Trickle ICE: Incremental Provisioning of Candidates
for the Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) Protocol
JitsiRTFM, IncGoogle
One of the main issues regarding the BUNDLE grouping extensions has been whether,
in SDP Offers and SDP Answers, the same port value should be inserted in "m="
lines associated with a BUNDLE group, as the purpose of the extension is to negotiate
the usage of a single address:port combination for media associated with the
"m=" lines. Issues with both approaches, discussed in the Appendix have been
raised. The outcome was to specify a mechanism which uses SDP Offers with both
different and identical port values.
Below are the primary issues that have been considered when defining the "BUNDLE"
grouping extension:
1) Interoperability with existing UAs.2) Interoperability with intermediary B2BUA- and proxy entities.3) Time to gather, and the number of, ICE candidates.4) Different error scenarios, and when they occur.5) SDP Offer/Answer impacts, including usage of port number value zero.
NOTE: Before this document is published as an RFC, this Appendix might be removed.
Consider the following SDP Offer/Answer exchange, where Alice sends an SDP Offer to Bob:
RFC 4961 specifies a way of doing symmetric RTP but that is an a later
invention to RTP and Bob can not assume that Alice supports RFC 4961. This
means that Alice may be sending RTP from a different port than 10000 or
10002 - some implementation simply send the RTP from an ephemeral
port. When Bob's endpoint receives an RTP packet, the only way that Bob
know if it should be passed to the video or audio codec is by looking at
the port it was received on. This lead some SDP implementations to use the
fact that each "m=" line had a different port number to use that port
number as an index to find the correct m line in the SDP. As a result, some
implementations that do support symmetric RTP and ICE still use a SDP data
structure where SDP with "m=" lines with the same port such as:
will result in the second "m=" line being considered an SDP error
because it has the same port as the first line.
In an SDP Offer or SDP Answer, the media associated with an "m=" line can be
disabled/rejected by setting the port number value to zero. This is different
from e.g. using the SDP direction attributes, where RTCP traffic will
continue even if the SDP "inactive" attribute is indicated for the
associated "m=" line.
If each "m=" line associated with a BUNDLE group would contain different
port values, and one of those port values would be used for a BUNDLE address
associated with the BUNDLE group, problems would occur if an endpoint wants to
disable/reject the "m=" line associated with that port, by setting the port
value to zero. After that, no "m=" line would contain the port value which
is used for the BUNDLE address. In addition, it is unclear what would happen
to the ICE candidates associated with the "m=" line, as they are also used for
the BUNDLE address.
Some back to back user agents may be configured in a mode where if
the incoming call leg contains an SDP attribute the B2BUA does not
understand, the B2BUS still generates that SDP attribute in the Offer
for the outgoing call leg. Consider an B2BUA that did not understand
the SDP "rtcp" attribute, defined in RFC 3605, yet acted this way.
Further assume that the B2BUA was configured to tear down any call
where it did not see any RTCP for 5 minutes. In this cases, if the B2BUA
received an Offer like:
It would be looking for RTCP on port 49172 but would not see any
because the RTCP would be on port 53020 and after five minutes, it would
tear down the call. Similarly, an SBC that did not understand BUNDLE yet
put BUNDLE in it's offer may be looking for media on the wrong port and
tear down the call. It is worth noting that a B2BUA that generated an
Offer with capabilities it does not understand is not compliant with the
specifications.
Sometimes intermediaries do not act as B2BUA, in the sense that
they don't modify SDP bodies, nor do they terminate SIP dialogs.
Still, however, they may use SDP information (e.g. IP address and
port) in order to control traffic gating functions, and to set
traffic policing rules. There might be rules which will trigger
a session to be terminated in case media is not sent or received
on the ports retrieved from the SDP. This typically occurs once the
session is already established and ongoing.
Sometimes intermediaries do not act as B2BUA, in the sense that
they don't modify SDP bodies, nor do they terminate SIP dialogs.
Still, however, they may use SDP information (e.g. codecs and
media types) in order to control bandwidth allocation functions.
The bandwidth allocation is done per "m=" line, which means that
it might not be enough if media associated with all "m=" lines
try to use that bandwidth. That may either simply lead to bad
user experience, or to termination of the call.
When using ICE, an candidate needs to be gathered for each port. This
takes approximately 20 ms extra for each extra "m=" line due to the NAT
pacing requirements. All of this gather can be overlapped with other
things while the page is loading to minimize the impact. If the client
only wants to generate TURN or STUN ICE candidates for one of the "m="
lines and then use trickle ICE
to get the non host ICE candidates for the rest of the "m=" lines, it MAY do
that and will not need any additional gathering time.
Some people have suggested a TURN extension to get a bunch of TURN
allocation at once. This would only provide a single STUN result so in
cases where the other end did not support BUNDLE, may cause more use of
the TURN server but would be quick in the cases where both sides
supported BUNDLE and would fall back to a successful call in the other
cases.