Streaming Protocol

A Streaming Protocol is a protocol that can enable continuous data transmission through sequential packet delivery.

• AKA: Stream Protocol, Real-Time Protocol, Continuous Protocol, Flow Protocol.
• Context:
  • It can typically support Continuous Data Flow without complete download.
  • It can typically implement Buffer Management for smooth playback.
  • It can typically provide Flow Control for bandwidth adaptation.
  • It can typically handle Packet Loss through error recovery.
  • It can typically enable Low Latency through optimized delivery.
  • It can often support Adaptive Bitrate for quality adjustment.
  • It can often provide Synchronization Mechanisms for multi-stream coordination.
  • It can often implement Congestion Control for network stability.
  • It can range from being a Unicast Protocol to being a Multicast Protocol, depending on its distribution model.
  • It can range from being a Reliable Protocol to being an Unreliable Protocol, depending on its delivery guarantee.
  • It can range from being a Push Protocol to being a Pull Protocol, depending on its initiation model.
  • It can range from being a Stateless Protocol to being a Stateful Protocol, depending on its connection model.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Media Streaming Protocols, such as:
    • RTP Protocol for real-time media.
    • RTMP Protocol for live streaming.
    • HLS Protocol for HTTP streaming.
  • Data Streaming Protocols, such as:
    • WebSocket Protocol for bidirectional streams.
    • Server-Sent Events for unidirectional push.
    • gRPC Streaming for RPC streams.
  • Application Protocols, such as:
    • MQTT Protocol for IoT streaming.
    • Kafka Protocol for message streaming.
    • AMQP Protocol for message queue streaming.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • File Transfer Protocol, which uses complete transfer.
  • Request-Response Protocol, which uses discrete exchange.
  • Store-and-Forward Protocol, which uses delayed delivery.
• See: Protocol, Real-Time Communication, Data Streaming, Network Protocol, Media Delivery, WebSocket Protocol, Real-Time Transport Protocol, Continuous Processing, Stream Processing.

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