In recent years, there is a trend for enterprise communication with WebRTC support. By integrating with WebRTC, the enterprise will be able to extend the flexibility of the IP communication. IPPBX system can utilize SBC as a gateway to let your unified communications system easily speed up with WebRTC. Dinstar SBC offers a such perfect solution for IPPBX system or unified communications system. Let us share with you about the combination of the SBC and WebRTC.
About WebRTC
WebRTC stands for Web Real-Time Communication. It provides JavaScript API for web developers to develop real-time audio and video dialogue based on web browsers, including audio and video collection, encoding and decoding, network transmission, exhibition, and other functions.
It helps developers easily build web applications with real-time audio and video transmission functions with peer-to-peer communication, which can be widely used on platforms such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Signaling control protocol used by WebRTC
Signaling is a mechanism to achieve the establishment of communication protocols and channels by exchanging messages between clients. WebRTC communication does not have to bind with standard requirements for the type of signaling protocol it uses. Common signaling control protocols of WebRTC communication include: SIP over Webscoket, XMPP/Jingle, Data channel, etc. The highlight point is that the signaling and media in WebRTC communication are mandatory to be encrypted to ensure data security. The data stream is encrypted using the Datagram Transport Layer Security Protocol (DTLS), and the media stream is encrypted using the Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP).
WebRTC classic triangle topology example described in the diagram below
The basic process of WebRTC communication described in the flowchart below
Why WebRTC
Easy-to-Use
Call media devices directly through the web browser to, API interface directly access network resources, users do not need to install another plug-ins.
Good Compatibility:
Developers can develop various applications based on WebRTC through web browsers which supporting WebRTC, without compatibility issues between terminals and operating systems. In addition, WebRTC also provides standard API (W3C) and its standard protocol (IETF) to avoid the problem of platform compatibility.
High Security:
Signaling, voice and video are encrypted in WebRTC communication transmission to ensure the communication security.
Advanced Audio & Video Processing:
WebRTC supports the latest codecs like OPUS for audio, H.264, VP8 for video, which provides better voice or video quality and good call experiences for users.
Reliable Transmission Capability:
WebRTC provides reliable transmission mode ensure stability even it works behind NAT environment.
Multimedia Stream Processing:
WebRTC provides powerful multimedia capacity including support for audio and video conferencing, file exchange, screen sharing, identity management, and interfacing with legacy telephone systems.
Protocol Conversion:
A WebRTC gateway enables you to connect WebRTC and VoIP technology like enterprise UC communication system, SIP terminals, SIP gateways.
Future-proof:
WebRTC is widely used in latest technologies like unified communication, smart AI (Artificial Intelligence) contact center.
Typical WebRTC Applications
| • Web-based audio / video conference |
• Unified communication |
• Enterprise communication / IP PBX / Contact center |
| • Dispatching monitoring / Public broadcasting |
• Remote medical treatment / home nursing |
• Online customer service / Online support |
| • Online training |
• Live streaming |
• Smart home |
Challenges of Leveraging WebRTC Technology
How to ensure the security of WebRTC users and core application server?
Web users are from anywhere, may use any types of terminals to access to application server through any types of network, user information can be easily monitored and sniffed which cause huge security threats to users. The threatens are also there to core application server.
How can WebRTC communicate with SIP protocol?
One of the main problems of WebRTC is how browsers (HTML5 WebRTC using WebSocket and DTLS secure media) connect seamlessly with standard SIP protocol (plain SIP and RTP) which are processed by common VoIP servers such as Asterisk, OpenSIPS.
Solution: Dinstar Session Border Controller performs full conversion between WebRTC and SIP protocol
Dinstar SBC acts as a role of WebRTC2SIP gateway and WebRTC-SIP proxy which allows web browsers to interact (make and receive voice calls) with any SIP network with complete protocol conversion from WebRTC to SIP and back, including both signaling and media streams.
DINSTAR SBC makes signaling and media session conversion for web users. It supports HTTP, XMPP, WebSocket to SIP signaling conversion and SRTP to RTP media conversion, as well as transcoding between various codecs such Opus, G.711, G.729 etc., helps maximize call quality and success ratio, boosts the users' experiences. In addition, SBC provides signaling and media firewall services to ensure the secure accesses of web users, reduce the security risk in the communications.
Benefits of Using DINSTAR SBC
A WebRTC gateway
WebRTC to SIP conversion without additional hardware.
Mature Technology:
Based on widely-used SIP over WebSocket and mature SIP signaling architecture.
Opus Voice Codec:
No need transcoding between different WebRTC terminals.
High-quality Communication:
Flexible QoS based routing, voice quality.
High Availability:
1+1 hardware redundancy as an option.
High Security:
Various security strategies and anti-attack technologies to ensure the security. Click here to know more about how SBC ensures the security
DINSTAR SBC in Typical Applications of WebRTC
Use Case 1: Enterprise
For enterprise IP telephony system, DINSTAR SBC provides anti-attack service to ensure the stability of phone system, and is also used as a WebRTC gateway. With WebRTC clients, users can enjoy calls and conferences to headquarter quite simply. Mobile users can also register to headquarter IP PBX, make phone calls to customers through the enterprise telephony system. WebRTC uses DTLS and SRTP encryption technology ensure the security of user information.
Use Case 2: Call Center / Contact Center
Dinstar SBC helps quickly deploy WebRTC call center. The agents can dial and answer calls directly through web browser, without physical telephone and wiring. It is simple and easy to use, providing more efficient, high voice quality and better experiences. Meanwhile, it is compatible with SIP / PSTN network.
Use Case 3: WebRTC Click-to-Call
With WebRTC technology, Dinstar SBC can help you to build an online customer service center. For example, a customer-service website provides one click call feature based on WebRTC, enterprise agents use SIP terminals such as IP phones, ATAs etc. In order to make calls to service center through browser directly, Dinstar SBC is used to realize protocol conversion between WebRTC and SIP protocol. Users just need to click the call button on website, and enjoy the call to customer service center (Agents use SIP phones, analog phones, etc.)
Use Case 4: WebRTC embedded to Email
With WebRTC technology and Dinstar SBC, you can have another way to initial a call to contact center, that is Email. The idea is to send an email to specific address and use email signature to deliver a callback link. Email receiver can click the link to call to contact center. The advantage is that the email sender doesn’t need to send their phone number, while the email receiver can easily call the sender by simply clicking the callback link.
Use Case 5: Unattended Parking Lot / Scenic Area / Elevator Emergency / Intercom
While the smart city is approaching us day by day, WebRTC technology develops more and more applications, such as unattended parking lot, scenic area, elevator and other places. Intelligent SIP terminal can be used for remote monitoring, emergency call etc. Remote customer service center usually can monitor on-site status remotely, and when there are any problems or any accidents on-site, the intelligent terminals (Video intercom and monitoring camera) can be used to call the remote customer service center by simply and quickly pressing call button on terminals. At that time, the customer service staff can directly communicate with the on-site person through the PC browser (WebRTC audio and video technology) to handle and solve problems, to provide help or information to on-site person, more conveniently and efficiently.
