Question

1. You are required to design a VoIP application. Discuss the requirements for such an
application in terms of its protocols and performance requirements. What types of
protocols you would need to design a complete VoIP application (Hint: real time
streaming protocols and signaling protocols, etc.)? [5marks]
2. Discuss the architecture of WhatsApp in terms of its protocols. Address and discuss
all the essential protocols used by WhatsApp for communication.
[5 Marks]

Answer 1

Question 1 Answer:

VoIP Implementation Requirements:

1) Network Bandwidth: A high-speed broadband connection,is the prime requirement.

Plan to use 100 Kbps (or 0.1 Mbps) per line of voice service. For example, if you plan to use ten voice lines, you need 1000 kbps (1 Mbps) for your network.

Use up to 80% of your available network bandwidth. A congested network can result in poor-quality phone calls.

2) Low Latency : A reliable internet connection leads to successful VoIP implementations. The less time it takes data to reach the internet, the better connection you have. You can measure the quality of your network by monitoring Jitter and Ping.These metrics focus on the quality and consistency of your connection.Successful VoIP implementations have less than 70 ms (milliseconds) for Ping and Jitter. Take the free VoIP speed test to see the speed and stability of your network connection.

3) Wired over Wi-Fi : When you have the option, connect VoIP devices to an Ethernet connection. Wireless internet (WiFi) may work for some users, but it is not as reliable as a wired connection.Avoid congested network symptoms and delight users with an Ethernet network connection.For users who operate in an office, invest in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch. PoE switches deliver the data and power for VoIP phones over one wire.

4) Data Prioritization: You can’t always forecast every network condition, but you can plan for the higher traffic. Examples of high-traffic activities include software updates, file transfers, and watching videos.

Set up Quality of Service (QoS) on your router to optimize voice traffic on the network. Contact your business phone service provider for QoS tweaks for their network.

5) VoIP Phones :Identify the number of phones and which must-have features you need. Should everyone should get the same type of phone? Are there certain users who want to receive a premium business phone? Visit our VoIP phone guide to view top recommendations.

6) Network Connectivity: Calculate how much bandwidth you need by estimating 100 kbps per voice line. Always factor in an extra 15% headroom for data overhead.Align your implementation plan with the company’s staffing plan, so it’s growth-oriented.

7) Communication Costs: Understand how much the company spends on its existing telephone service. Consider these costs as you look into an alternative business phone provider.

Switching to VoIP (or adding a SIP Trunk to your IP PBX) can save your organization up to 70% off its voice service.

Understand what your company actually spends on business communications. The entire organization rarely feels these individual costs, but they add up. Gather invoices for all your business apps so you can look at the bigger picture and trim expenses.

8) Number Portability : Identify any issues you may have with porting your number to a VoIP number. In most cases, you will want to speak with your phone provider to understand what you need to port out your number.

It takes about 2-4 weeks to migrate a number from a previous phone provider.

9) Get Familiar with the Portal (Control Panel): Gain confidence in administering your VoIP phone system. People may ask you to add lines, adjust features, and more. Check with your VoIP provider to adopt their recommendations.

Dedicate a couple of hours for this purpose so you will save you time when you need to make adjustments later.

10) Develop Training Materials: Expect that people will ask you about common phone functions like accessing voicemail. It will happen no matter how simple it is. Make your VoIP implementation successful by developing a handy guide for staff.

Provide a slideshow showing significant features and functions. Think about their everyday needs. This document empowers your staff to enjoy their phone system without any hiccups. Provide a one-page guide to show how to manage voicemail, transfer calls, and use the hold function.

11) Test to Discover and Fix Issues: Give yourself enough time to test your new VoIP business phone system. Identify any problems upfront and troubleshoot VoIP issues right away.

If you find that you need to upgrade your broadband service, do it soon. It’s not uncommon for service upgrades to take a couple of days to complete.

Consider testing your voice calls at various times throughout the workday. Testing like this simulates real-world conditions so you can fix issues earlier.

12) Selecting a VoIP Provider: Before you upgrade your phone system, you will want to choose a VoIP service provider. Select a provider offering excellent customer service, favorable customer reviews, and reliable uptime.

You also want to look for a phone provider that has the flexibility to serve the needs of your business. Nextiva is a leading business communications provider with over 100,000 users who trust it for their commercial phone service.

Don’t only choose the cheapest provider when comparing VoIP service providers. For smooth implementation, consider your VoIP provider your partner, not just another invoice.

If your company uses a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) as a part of your phone system, you will enjoy adding a SIP Trunk to it. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking helps you maximize the value of your existing PBX.

A top SIP Trunking provider will add voice connectivity using the same method of IP telephony as VoIP. Businesses love SIP Trunks because they lower telecom service costs. These VoIP solutions leverage technology without affecting day-to-day operations.

Protocols needed to design a complete VoIP application:

1) SIP (Session Initiation protocol) - It used for establishing a session (call). The Session Initiation Protocol is a signaling protocol that enables the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) by defining the messages sent between endpoints and managing the actual elements of a call. SIP supports voice calls, video conferencing, instant messaging, and media distribution.

2) RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol).– After SIP establishes a session, this protocol is used for exchanging voice packets.Real-time Transport Protocol defines a standard packet format for delivering audio and video over the Internet.

3)RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol)- It  is used to control real-time streaming media applications such as live audio and HD video streaming. The software establishes a media session between RTSP end-points and initiates RTP streams to deliver the audio and video payload from the RTSP media servers to the clients.

4) RTCP (Real Time Transport Control Protocol)- It works with RTP for quality of service monitoring, statistics collection, and control of a related RTP stream. RTCP is used to report packet reception statistics to the sender to adapt, as needed, to network changes during an ongoing session.

Question 2 answer:

Protocols used for communication:

1) XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) : It uses a customized version of the open standard Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol .

2) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) : It uses VoIP for voice communication.