Adaptive Multi-Hop P2P Video Communication: A Super Node-Based Architecture for Conversation-Aware Streaming

Abstract

This paper proposes a multi-hop peer-to-peer (P2P) video streaming architecture designed to support dynamic, conversation-aware communication. The primary contribution is a decentralized system built on WebRTC that eliminates reliance on a central media server by employing super node aggregation. In this architecture, video streams from multiple peer nodes are dynamically routed through a group of super nodes, enabling real-time reconfiguration of the network topology in response to conversational changes. To support this dynamic behavior, the system leverages WebRTC data channels for control signaling and overlay restructuring, allowing efficient dissemination of topology updates and coordination messages among peers. A key focus of this study is the rapid and efficient reallocation of network resources immediately following conversational events, ensuring that the streaming overlay remains aligned with ongoing interaction patterns. While the automatic detection of such events is beyond the scope of this work, we assume that external triggers are available to initiate topology updates. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed system, we construct a simulation environment using Docker containers and evaluate its streaming performance under dynamic network conditions. The results demonstrate the system’s applicability to adaptive, naturalistic communication scenarios. Finally, we discuss future directions, including the seamless integration of external trigger sources and enhanced support for flexible, context-sensitive interaction frameworks.