P2P VoIP : a peer-to-peer voice over IP application

Abstract

Voice over IP (VoIP) is a new emergent technology that allows telephone calls to be made over computer data networks. VoIP uses the Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit voice as data packets over an IP network. Such communication can be achieved on any type of IP network regardless if it is Internet, corporate intranets or Local Area Networks (LAN). This dissertation describes the implementation of a peer-to-peer VoIP application. This peer-to-peer VoIP application is deployed as an overlay network and totally independent from central controlling authorities. This autonomy from central authorities was achieved with the use of the peer-to-peer principle, which states that every peer on a peer-to-peer network should share some of his resources. In the peer-to-peer VoIP application every peer shares information about other peers he is aware of. Finally this led to a VoIP system that can be easily set-up, without the use of centralised servers, specialised PABXs or other extra hardware.