Streaming protocols are commands, processes and procedures that can be used to select, setup, start the playing, pausing, recording and tear down of streaming sessions.

Digital storage media command and control - DSM-CC - is an MPEG extension that allows for the control of MPEG streaming. DSM-CC provides VCR type features.

Real time streaming protocol - RTSP - is an Internet protocol that is used for continuous (streaming) audio and video sessions. RTSP provides the control of playing, stopping, media position control (e.g. fast forward) via bi-directional (two-way) communication sessions.

Real Time Transport Protocol - RTP - Real time transport protocol is a set of commands and processes that can be used to add timing and sequence information to each packet to allow the re-assembly of packets to reproduce real time audio and video information.

Real Time Transmission Control Protocol - RTCP - Real time transmission control protocol is a signaling protocol is used to identify and coodrinate the reporting of streaming flow information (e.g. lost packets).

This figure shows how a media server can adjust its data transmission rate to compensate for different user data rates. This example shows how a media server is streaming packets to an end user (for an Internet television viewer). Some of the packets are lost at the receiving end of the connection because of the access device. The receiving device (a television set top box) sends back control packets to the media server indicating that the communication session is experiencing a higher than desirable packet or frame loss rate. The media server can use this information to change its media compression and data transmission rates to compensate for the slow user access link.