MSCML

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The Media Server Control Markup Language (MSCML) is a protocol used in conjunction with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to enable the delivery of advanced multimedia conferencing services over IP networks. The MSCML specification has been published by the IETF under RFC 4722, [1] now obsoleted by the newer RFC 5022. [2] MSCML was pioneered by the media server company Snowshore, [3] now part of the Dialogic Corporation. MSCML built on ideas from the Netann protocol, and in turn inspired the MSML. [4] An IETF working group called MediaCTRL [5] (media control) have now embarked on a standardization of media server scripting languages, drawing on these earlier efforts. Voice scripting protocols like VoiceXML and CCXML are also inspiring sources, and in some cases need to be integrated with what media servers will need to operate in the real world.

The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol used for initiating, maintaining, and terminating real-time sessions that include voice, video and messaging applications. SIP is used for signaling and controlling multimedia communication sessions in applications of Internet telephony for voice and video calls, in private IP telephone systems, in instant messaging over Internet Protocol (IP) networks as well as mobile phone calling over LTE (VoLTE).

The Media Server Markup Language (MSML) is used to control and invoke many different types of services on IP Media Servers and is described in RFC 5707. Clients can use it to define how multimedia sessions interact on a Media Server and to apply services to individuals or groups of users. MSML can be used, for example, to control Media Server conferencing features such as video layout and audio mixing, create sidebar conferences or personal mixes, and set the properties of media streams. As well, clients can use MSML to define media processing dialogs, which may be used as parts of application interactions with users or conferences. Transformation of media streams to and from users or conferences as well as IVR dialogs are examples of such interactions, which are specified using MSML. MSML clients may also invoke dialogs with individual users or with groups of conference participants using VoiceXML.

A media server refers either to a dedicated computer appliance or to a specialized application software, ranging from an enterprise class machine providing video on demand, to, more commonly, a small personal computer or NAS for the home, dedicated for storing various digital media. This can also mean that these servers are specialized for media for streaming

MSCML enables enhanced conference control functions such as muting individual callers or legs in a multi-party conference call. Other control functionality enabled by MSCML includes the ability to increase or decrease the volume on a leg or on the call and the capability to create sub-conferences. MSCML also addresses other feature requirements for large-scale conferencing applications, such as sizing and resizing of a conference.

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References

  1. ↑ Media Server Control Markup Language (MSCML) and Protocol, Nov 2006, J.Van Dyke, E.Burger
  2. ↑ Media Server Control Markup Language (MSCML) and Protocol, Sept 2007, J.Van Dyke, E.Burger
  3. ↑ "Cantata Intros SnowShore IP Media Server for New VoIP, IMS Services" - TMCNet
  4. ↑ Processing IP Media with MSML, Feb 2007, M.Davies
  5. ↑ MediaCTRL charter, Burger, Dawkins Archived 2009-01-30 at the Wayback Machine .
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