6.4. Timing Rules

The NACK feedback message may be sent in a regular full compound RTCP packet or in an early RTCP packet, as per AVPF [1]. Sending a NACK in an early packet allows reacting more quickly to a given packet loss. However, in that case if a new packet loss occurs right after the early RTCP packet was sent, the receiver will then have to wait for the next regular RTCP compound packet after the early packet. Sending NACKs only in regular RTCP compound increases the maximum delay between detecting an original packet loss and being able to send a NACK for that packet. Implementers should consider the possible implications of this fact for the application being used.

Furthermore, receivers may make use of the minimum interval between regular RTCP compound packets. This interval can be used to keep regular receiver reporting down to a minimum, while still allowing receivers to send early RTCP packets during periods requiring more frequent feedback, e.g., times of higher packet loss rate. Note that although RTCP packets may be suppressed because they do not contain NACKs, the same RTCP bandwidth as if they were sent needs to be available. See AVPF [1] for details on the use of the minimum interval.