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Summary
This meeting focused on progressing the WebRTC HTTP Ingestion Protocol (WEP) draft towards RFC publication. The main discussion points revolved around addressing open issues, particularly regarding server-sent offers, event stream handling, and extension mechanisms. Several actions were identified to move the document forward.
Key Discussion Points
- Server-Sent Offers (Issue #12): A significant discussion centered on whether WEP should support server-sent offers in addition to client-sent offers. Concerns were raised about the RESTfulness of server-sent offers, potential interoperability issues, and the lack of concrete proposals for implementation. The main use case brought up was interoperability with whip.
- Event Stream Handling (Issue #19): Julius proposed an alternative event stream architecture where the event stream is initiated before the WEP session, allowing for pre-session communication of information like simulcast envelopes. Sergio expressed concerns about delaying RFC publication due to substantial redesign. An alternative of using a data channel for events was brought up to avoid HTTP overhead.
- Extension Mechanism: Discussed the possibility of splitting the draft into a core WEP specification and an experimental extension specification for features like server-sent events and simulcast negotiation. An AD advised caution about experimental status. Agreement that a generic extension mechanism is important.
- Data Channels for Events: Discussed using data channels instead of HTTP for server-sent events, potentially alleviating HTTP-related overhead. Tim proposed modifying the current spec to be future-compatible with this by allowing the "m=application" line in the SDP offer, but instead of doing a 400 error, the client would just not include that M-line.
- URL Discoverability (Issue #7): Discussed how to differentiate WEP URLs from other HTTP-based protocols, given that WEP uses HTTP URLs. The suggestion to use a ".wep" file extension was deemed impractical.
- Server Behavior for Misbehaving Clients (Issue #20): Discussed whether the specification should define server behavior when a client requests an event that the server has not announced. It was determined that a one-sentence statement clarifying that the server is free to ignore or reject such requests would be beneficial.
Decisions and Action Items
- Server-Sent Offers: The chairs requested a concrete proposal (PR) for server-sent offers. If no proposal is submitted within a reasonable timeframe, the issue will be closed. (Action: Open Issue #12 comment).
- Data Channels and Events: Tim will create a PR for supporting the M line today with data channel support to the spec and splitting the RFC into core WEP and the data channel extension RFC.
- Misbehaving Clients: A sentence clarifying server behavior when dealing with non-compliant clients will be added to the specification. (Action: Sergio to add the sentence).
Next Steps
- Tim to submit PR for data channel.
- Sergio to add one sentence regarding non compliant clients.
- Continue discussion on the mailing list to resolve open issues.
- Sergio will backport all changes from HTTP review.