Technical overview

When a user enters a room, the client establishes a WebSocket connection with the server, which is used to exchange JSON-encoded messages. For example, a room-info message provides the client with information about other clients connected to the room. This communication channel is also used for signaling, in which clients exchange offers and answers to negotiate WebRTC peer connections for streaming audio and video.

Server-side components

• ChatRoom – manages clients and room information for a given room

• ChatClient – represents a client which is connected to a room

• ChatManager – manages chat rooms and handles message relaying

Client-side componenets

• Signaler – passes messages between the client and server using a WebSocket

• VideoPeer – represents another client in the room and streams media using RTCPeerConnection

• Manager – manages the Signaler and all VideoPeers

Messaging Protocol

Clients exchange messages with the server using a JSON-based protocol. Different message types allow various types of data to be exchanged, for example a simple ping/pong or the retrieval of information about the room and clients. Some message types expect a response (e.g. ping -> pong; get-room-info -> room-info) while others do not (e.g. text, greeting, bye).

Most messages contain a few common headers, which are keys in the JSON message object:

• sender – a string containing the address (often the client-ID) of the sending party

• receiver – a string containing the address (often the client-ID) of the receiving party

• type – the type of message, such as ping, room-info, or bye

• data – the payload, whose structure depends on type

Message Types

• ping – a simple message to which a pong reply is expected

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'ping',
   data: ''}
  

• pong – the expected response when a ping message is received. If the ping contains a data field, the pong should provide the same data back.

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'pong',
   data: ''}
  

• text – a message from a user which consists of text

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'text',
   data: {from: '',
          time: '',
          text: ''}}
  

• get-room-info – request information about the room and connected clients

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'get-room-info'}
  

• room-info – supply information about the room and connected clients

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'room-info',
   data: {room_id: '',
          clients: [{id: '', username: ''}]}}
  

• profile – an information update about a client, such as the client’s username

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'profile',
   data: {username: ''}}
  

• get-ice-servers – request information about available STUN and TURN servers

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'get-ice-servers'}
  

• ice-servers – supply information about available STUN and TURN servers

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'ice-servers',
   data: [{urls: ['']},
          {urls: [''], username: '', credential: ''}]}
  

• offer – an offer to establish an RTCPeerConnection, to which an answer is expected

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'offer',
   data: ''}
  

• answer – a reply to an offer

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'answer',
   data: ''}
  

• greeting – a friendly greeting

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'greeting',
   data: ''}
  

• bye – a notification to the other party that the connection is about to be terminated

  {sender: '',
   receiver: '',
   type: 'bye',
   data: ''}