Networking technique for synchronous e-learning platforms in corporate environments

A synchronous e-learning platform is an effective way to implement training programs for human resources in large corporations. These organizations are usually dispersed in multiple sites very distant from each other, so transport of multimedia data within an e-learning activity is a true challenge. Usually, multimedia data is delivered using the RTP protocol. In this paper, an optimal transport technique based on a multicast overlay network is proposed. The overlay is made up of multiple servers that operate at the RTP level and combine unicast and multicast transport whenever possible. This technique has proved to be more efficient than a solution based exclusively on unicast delivery.