Video Conferencing System Design (Zoom, Google Meet)

Introduction

Video conferencing platforms enable real-time audio, video, and screen sharing for millions of users. These systems must deliver low latency, high quality, and reliability across the globe.

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Problem Statement

How can we design a video conferencing system that supports real-time communication, scales to millions of users, and maintains high quality?

System Requirements

• Real-time audio and video streaming.
• Low latency and high reliability.
• Scalability for large meetings and webinars.
• Screen sharing and chat features.
• Security (encryption, authentication).

High-Level Design

The system consists of:

• Client Applications: Capture and render audio/video.
• Media Servers: Route, mix, and transcode streams.
• Signaling Servers: Manage session setup and control.
• TURN/STUN Servers: Handle NAT traversal.
• Database: Stores user, meeting, and metadata.

Key Components

• WebRTC: Standard for real-time communication in browsers.
• SFU/MCU: Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU) or Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) for efficient stream routing.
• Load Balancing: Distributes sessions across servers.
• Recording and Archiving: Stores meeting recordings.

Challenges

• Scalability: Handling thousands of concurrent streams.
• Network Variability: Adapting to changing bandwidth and latency.
• Synchronization: Keeping audio, video, and screen sharing in sync.
• Security: End-to-end encryption and access control.

Example Technologies

• WebRTC: Real-time media transport.
• Media Servers: Janus, Jitsi, Kurento.
• Signaling: WebSockets, gRPC.

Conclusion

Video conferencing at scale requires efficient media handling, robust signaling, and adaptive streaming. By leveraging WebRTC, scalable media servers, and secure protocols, you can deliver high-quality, reliable video communication.