5. Congestion Control

The correct application of the AVPF [RFC4585] timing rules prevents the network from being flooded by feedback messages. Hence, assuming a correct implementation and configuration, the RTCP channel cannot break its bit rate commitment and introduce congestion.

The reception of some of the feedback messages modifies the behaviour of the media senders or, more specifically, the media encoders.

Thus, modified behaviour MUST respect the bandwidth limits that the application of congestion control provides. For example, when a media sender is reacting to a FIR, the unusually high number of packets that form the decoder refresh point have to be paced in compliance with the congestion control algorithm, even if the user experience suffers from a slowly transmitted decoder refresh point.

A change of the Temporary Maximum Media Stream Bit Rate value can only mitigate congestion, but not cause congestion as long as congestion control is also employed. An increase of the value by a request REQUIRES the media sender to use congestion control when increasing its transmission rate to that value. A reduction of the value results in a reduced transmission bit rate, thus reducing the risk for congestion.