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RTSP Live Streaming

Start a device RTSP session, follow the hotspot workflow exposed through its callbacks, and pass the returned RTSP address to a compatible player.

Animated workflow

RTSP startup and playback

RTSP startup is a multi-stage device and Wi-Fi workflow. Surface each stage without treating it as final success.

Host app

Configure Stream

Use default RTSP parameters or set documented bitrate, quality, and I-frame values.

SDK + device

Configure Hotspot

Observe hotspot configuration start and completion.

Device

Enter Live Mode

Wait for the device to enter its live-streaming mode.

Device

Wait for Hotspot

The device opens its hotspot before the app can join it.

SDK + iOS

Connect Hotspot

Display the supplied SSID and observe the connection result.

Wi-Fi
Device → app

Receive RTSP URL

Validate and retain the rtsp:// address returned by the SDK.

AIBudsLiveStream

Start Playback

Attach a player view and play the URL as a live VideoSource.

Host app

Session Active

Update active state only after the session-start completion succeeds.

streaming
Terminal callback

Finish and Clean Up

Stop player resources and distinguish user stop from interruption.

The RTSP address and session-start callback are separate events. Retain playback resources until the session finishes or the user stops it.

Prerequisites

  • The device is connected and ready and conforms to LiveStreamingAPI.
  • supportsRTSPLiveStreaming is true.
  • Your app is prepared for the SDK-managed device-hotspot connection workflow.
  • Add AIBudsLiveStream.xcframework when using the SDK's RTSP player shown below.

API Reference

Framework

AIBuds.xcframework, AIBudsFoundation.xcframework, and optionally AIBudsLiveStream.xcframework

Import

Swift
import AIBuds
import AIBudsFoundation
import AIBudsLiveStream

Properties

Swift
/// Whether RTSP live streaming is supported
var supportsRTSPLiveStreaming: Bool { get }

Instance Method

Swift
/// Start RTSP live streaming
/// - Parameters:
///   - params: RTSP stream parameters
///   - configureHotspotStartingHandler: Configure hotspot starting handler
///   - hotspotConfigureCompletionHandler: Hotspot configure completion handler
///   - enterLiveStreamingModeStartingHandler: Enter live streaming mode starting handler
///   - enterLiveStreamingModeCompletedHandler: Enter live streaming mode completed handler
///   - waitingForHotspotOpenHandler: Waiting for hotspot open handler
///   - connectDeviceHotspotStartingHandler: Connect device hotspot starting handler
///   - deviceHotspotConnectCompletionHandler: Device hotspot connect completion handler
///   - rtspAddressReceivedHandler: RTSP address received handler
///   - sessionStartCompletionHandler: Session start completion handler
///   - sessionFinishHandler: Session finish handler
func startRTSPLiveStreaming(
    withParams params: RTSPStreamParams,
    configureHotspotStartingHandler: AIBudsLiveStreamingConfigureHotspotStartingHandler?,
    hotspotConfigureCompletionHandler: AIBudsLiveStreamingHotspotConfigureCompletionHandler?,
    enterLiveStreamingModeStartingHandler: AIBudsEnterLiveStreamingModeStartingHandler?,
    enterLiveStreamingModeCompletedHandler: AIBudsEnterLiveStreamingModeCompletionHandler?,
    waitingForHotspotOpenHandler: AIBudsLiveStreamingStartingToWaitForHotspotOpenHandler?,
    connectDeviceHotspotStartingHandler: AIBudsLiveStreamingConnectDeviceHotspotStartingHandler?,
    deviceHotspotConnectCompletionHandler:
        AIBudsLiveStreamingDeviceHotspotConnectCompletionHandler?,
    rtspAddressReceivedHandler: AIBudsLiveStreamingRtspAddressReceivedHandler?,
    sessionStartCompletionHandler: AIBudsLiveStreamingSessionStartCompletionHandler?,
    sessionFinishHandler: AIBudsLiveStreamingSessionFinishHandler?
)

See startRTSPLiveStreaming and RTSPStreamParams.

RTSP Parameters

PropertyMeaning
bitrateMbps. 0 requests the device default.
qualityFactor0 requests lossless quality; larger values increase compression.
iFrameIntervalNumber of P/B frames before an I-frame; larger values increase compression.

The SDK does not currently publish device-independent nonzero ranges for these values. Prefer RTSPStreamParams.default unless the target device contract supplies supported values.

Usage Examples

Retain the player for the entire session. The example uses every workflow callback and starts playback only after receiving a valid RTSP URL.

Swift
let player = LiveStreamingPlayer()
player.addVideoView(to: videoContainerView)

guard let streamingDevice = device as? LiveStreamingAPI,
    streamingDevice.supportsRTSPLiveStreaming
else { return }

streamingDevice.startRTSPLiveStreaming(
    withParams: .default,
    configureHotspotStartingHandler: { showStage("Configuring hotspot") },
    hotspotConfigureCompletionHandler: { success, error in
        showStage(
            success
                ? "Hotspot configured"
                : error?.localizedDescription ?? "Hotspot configuration failed")
    },
    enterLiveStreamingModeStartingHandler: { showStage("Entering live-stream mode") },
    enterLiveStreamingModeCompletedHandler: { success, error in
        showStage(
            success
                ? "Live-stream mode entered" : error?.localizedDescription ?? "Mode entry failed")
    },
    waitingForHotspotOpenHandler: { showStage("Waiting for device hotspot") },
    connectDeviceHotspotStartingHandler: { ssid in showStage("Connecting to \(ssid)") },
    deviceHotspotConnectCompletionHandler: { success, error in
        showStage(
            success
                ? "Device hotspot connected"
                : error?.localizedDescription ?? "Hotspot connection failed")
    },
    rtspAddressReceivedHandler: { address in
        guard let url = URL(string: address), url.scheme?.lowercased() == "rtsp" else { return }
        let source = VideoSource(url: url, videoType: .normal)
        source.isLiveStream = true
        player.play(source: source)
    },
    sessionStartCompletionHandler: { success, error in
        setStreamingActive(success)
        if let error { show(error) }
    },
    sessionFinishHandler: { userStopped, error in
        player.stop()
        setStreamingActive(false)
        handleFinish(userStopped: userStopped, error: error)
    }
)

Error Handling

Treat hotspot configuration, mode entry, hotspot connection, session start, player failure, and non-user finish as separate failure points. A successful intermediate callback does not guarantee that later stages or playback will succeed.

Notes

  • The SDK returns the RTSP address asynchronously; do not construct a device URL by assumption.
  • RTSP playback requires the phone to remain connected to the device hotspot.
  • The Demo can optionally relay the received RTSP source to RTMP through LiveStreamer; that is an independent publisher lifecycle and requires an application-supplied RTMP URL.