Design of the application-level protocol for synchronized multimedia sessions

An application-level protocol that integrates the concept of application level framing and network-aware applications is proposed in order to support network applications with a synchronized multimedia session. The application model and the application QoS for the protocol are also proposed. The application QoS for each connection includes the maximum allowable ratio of the lost medium unit and the delay bound of the medium unit associated with the maximum allowable ratio. The control mechanisms that support the application protocol include error control, real-time control for individual connections within the session, and synchronization control for the multimedia session. Moreover, the application protocol with the control mechanisms provides a quantitative expression for the quality of the synchronized session in terms of the QoS parameters. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the protocol.