SPMCS: A Scalable Architecture for Peer to Peer Multiparty Conferencing

IP multiparty conferencing services such as: audio/video conferencing constitute a cost effective and flexible solution compare to TDM based multiparty conferencing. On one hand most of the existing multiparty or N-way conferencing solutions are based on a centralized server (Conference Bridge). On the other hand Peer-to-Peer model is inherently characterized by high scalability, robustness and fault tolerance. With its decentralized and distributed architecture, a P2P network is somehow able to self organized dynamically. Peer-to-peer (P2P) model or architecture are well adapted to N-way conferencing applications, effectively it can greatly benefit from P2P attributes such as: flexibility, scalability and robustness, particularly in critical environments such as: mobile networks. In this paper we propose a novel and original approach for Scalable P2P Multiparty Conferencing. This model combines a call control and signalling protocol (SIP) with a “P2P” protocol (Chord) for maintaining (dynamically) a well stabilized and optimized architecture topology. This model is also based on an “application layer” multicast mechanism. Theoretical analysis shows that our proposed approach benefits from SIP protocol flexibility, with the robustness and scalability of Chord protocol. The use of a multicast mechanism optimizes the overall traffic flow (control and media) and transmission efficiency