Streamline: An Optimal Distribution Algorithm for Peer-to-Peer Real-Time Streaming

In this paper, the authors propose and evaluate an overlay distribution algorithm for P2P, chunk-based, streaming systems over forest-based topologies. In such systems, the stream is divided in chunks; chunks are delivered by each node in a store-and-forward way. A relaying node starts distributing a chunk only when it has completed its reception from another node. Peers are logically organized in a forest of trees, where each tree includes all peers. The source periodically distributes different chunks to each tree for their delivery. Their key idea consists in employing serial transmission: for each tree and thus for each chunk, the source node sends the chunk to its children in series; the same holds for each peer node of the tree, excluding the leaves.