Lightweight Call Signaling and Peer-to-Peer Control of WebRTC Video Conferencing

Abstract

We present the software architecture and implementation of our web-based multiparty video conference application. It does not use a media server. For call signaling, it either piggybacks on existing push notifications via a lightweight notification server, or utilizes email messages to further remove that server dependency. For conference control and data storage, it creates a peer-to-peer network of the clients participating in the call. Our prototype client web app can be installed as a browser extension, or a progressive web app on desktop and mobile. It uses WebRTC data channels and media streams for the control and media paths in implementing a full featured video conferencing with audio, video, text and screen sharing. The challenges faced and the techniques used in creating our lightweight or serverless system are useful to other low-end WebRTC applications that intend to save cost on server maintenance or paid subscriptions for multiparty video calls.