---
title: "Internet evolution for multimedia; application classes"
subject: "Internet and Intranet"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_8/internet_and_intranet:multimedia-evolution-classes"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/multimedia-evolution-classes
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Internet evolution for multimedia; application classes

Internet and Intranet · Chapter 7: Internet and Intranet Applications

- Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 4+6 marks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/multimedia-evolution-classes
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/internet_and_intranet/chapter-7

## Question

How internet should evolve to support better multimedia? Explain different classes of multimedia application with suitable example?

## Short answer

The internet must add QoS (IntServ/DiffServ), more bandwidth, multicast, RTP/RTSP/SIP, CDN caching and IPv6 to support multimedia. Application classes are streaming stored (YouTube), streaming live (internet radio) and real-time interactive (VoIP/Zoom), with interactive needing the strictest delay limits.

## Answer

#### How the internet should evolve to support better multimedia

The present best-effort IP network gives no guarantee of bandwidth, delay or loss. Multimedia (voice, video) is sensitive to delay and jitter, so the internet needs to change in these ways.

1. **Quality of Service (QoS).** Introduce service guarantees: **IntServ/RSVP** (per-flow reservation) or **DiffServ** (traffic classes with priority marking) so audio and video get low delay and loss.
2. **More bandwidth.** Faster access (fibre, DSL, 4G/5G) and backbone upgrades, as video needs megabits per second.
3. **Multicast.** IP multicast delivers one stream to many receivers, saving bandwidth for broadcast and conferencing.
4. **Real-time protocols.** Use RTP/RTCP over UDP for timing and feedback, RTSP for stream control, SIP/H.323 for session set-up.
5. **Content delivery networks and caching** that place content close to users to cut delay.
6. **IPv6** for large address space, flow labels and simpler routing.
7. **Better scheduling and traffic management** in routers (priority queues, WFQ), plus admission control and billing models.
8. **Efficient codecs** (H.264, MP3, Opus) and adaptive streaming to match network capacity.

#### Classes of multimedia applications

| Class | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Streaming stored audio/video | Pre-recorded content sent from a server, playback starts before the whole file is received; user can pause, seek | YouTube, Netflix, music streaming |
| Streaming live audio/video | Live event is broadcast to many users; one-way, a few seconds of delay allowed | Live TV, internet radio, live match |
| Real-time interactive audio/video | Two-way conversation, very sensitive to delay (under about 150 ms) | VoIP, Skype, Zoom, video conferencing |

Properties: stored streaming needs buffering and has the least delay stress; live streaming needs multicast or CDN; interactive applications need the strictest QoS, because late packets are useless.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why must the internet evolve to give QoS for multimedia?
   A. Best-effort IP gives no guarantee of bandwidth, delay or loss, and voice and video are sensitive to delay and jitter
   B. Multimedia needs no bandwidth
   C. IP already guarantees delay
   D. Video is not sensitive to loss
   Answer: A. Reservations (IntServ/RSVP) or priority classes (DiffServ) give low delay and loss. (Key point: Need for QoS)

2. What is the benefit of IP multicast?
   A. It delivers one stream to many receivers, saving bandwidth
   B. It sends a separate copy to each user
   C. It encrypts the data
   D. It lowers the video resolution
   Answer: A. Multicast avoids duplicate streams for broadcast and conferencing. (Key point: Multicast benefit)

3. Which protocols are used for timing, feedback and stream control?
   A. RTP/RTCP over UDP, and RTSP
   B. FTP and SMTP
   C. ARP and ICMP only
   D. POP3 and IMAP
   Answer: A. RTP/RTCP provide timing and feedback; RTSP controls streams; SIP/H.323 set up sessions. (Key point: Real-time protocols)

4. Which application class is the most delay-sensitive (under about 150 ms)?
   A. Streaming stored video
   B. Streaming live video
   C. Real-time interactive audio/video such as VoIP
   D. File download
   Answer: C. Interactive conversations need the strictest QoS because late packets are useless. (Key point: Classes of multimedia)

## Related in Internet and Intranet

- [Multiprotocol support and MPLS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Amultiprotocol-support-mpls) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 2
- [AJAX features; CGI, Perl, JavaScript helpers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finternet_and_intranet%3Aajax-features-cgi-perl-js) — Internet and Intranet, chapter 6

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