Schedule

The draft schedule of conference tracks, talks and events is available at Schedule. Names of speakers and the titles of their talks can also be found at Conference Speakers. This information can be sorted by speaker name and track name.

Tracks

The conference includes 7 tracks addressing issues important to real time communications.  The names of the tracks, and their high level descriptions are shown below:

• Research Track
• Programmable Real-Time Networks
• VoiceTech
• WebRTC & Real-Time Applications
• Next Generation Emergency Communications
• Internet of Things

Research Track

Track Co-Chairs: Ronald Marx and José Aguerre

The RTC Research Track invites paper submissions in real-time multimedia communications describing architectures, design, theoretical results, experiments, innovative systems, prototyping efforts, and case studies. Papers that are accepted and presented at the conference will be submitted for publication in IEEE Xplore.

We are interested in works at the intersection of real-time multimedia communications with technologies in internet of things, vehicular networking, confidential computing, machine learning, network management, programmable network services, security, privacy, machine learning, voice technologies, blockchain, gaming, and robotics. The Technical Program inherits the 16-year legacy of the IPTComm Conference which evolved from a focus on Voice over IP to include some topics listed above. The archive of IPTComm publications is located at archive.

The online version of this Call for Papers and detailed submission guidelines can be found here.

Important dates for paper submissions

• Paper submission deadline: Monday, July 8, 2024 – 1200  CDT (no extension!)
• Notification of acceptance: Monday, August 5, 2024 – 1200  CDT
• Final camera-ready submission: Monday, September 2, 2024 – 1200 CDT

Programmable Real-Time Networks

Track Co-Chairs: Maureen Stillman and Chris Mayer

Explore the Future of Real-Time Networks: Resilience, Programmability, and Innovation!

The cloud continues to be a defining technology of the twenty-first century, putting vast computing resources at the fingertips of billions of people. At the same time, rapidly rising mobile data consumption, coupled with the high costs for network upgrades are forcing network operators to re-examine how they deploy next generation networks. This is leading communication service providers to increasingly focus on advanced technologies such as Open RAN, cloud-native 5G cores, network API’s, and the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence to increase flexibility, efficiency and automation.

A number of challenges exist that have limited more rapid and widespread adoption of these technologies.

• Do the benefits offered by these technologies justify the costs of migrating legacy infrastructure, and the risks of ceding end-to-end control of critical network functions?
• Are security and privacy concerns – often including regulatory requirements that data be stored within national borders – compatible with the distributed nature of public clouds?
• Does transitioning to the public cloud risk an increase in latency and/or service outages, jeopardizing the service quality of modern real-time networks, which are designed for a service delivery model built on five 9’s of network reliability?
• Are cloud providers also competitors to network operators, and what are the risks service providers face associated with potential vendor lock-in?

This track is your gateway to understanding the technologies behind the shift to programmable real-time networks, along with the challenges they present. Join us to:

1. Explore Programmability: Witness the rise of network engineers empowered to programmatically interact with the networks they administer. Learn how programmatic interfaces automate the creation and scaling of network services, accelerating real-time network deployment and service activation.

2. Navigate Hurdles: Examine the challenges that hinder the seamless adoption of programmable real-time networks. Understand the technical complexities, business challenges, and security and compliance issues associated with integrating advanced technologies, and explore strategies to address and overcome these obstacles for widespread implementation.

3. Examine Intersections: Delve into the intersection of programmable networking technologies with other disciplines, resulting in potential opportunities as developers are enabled to mash-up these capabilities to create new cutting-edge services.

4. Discover Telco as a Platform: Learn about the emerging concept of “Telco as a Platform,” and the potential for telecommunications infrastructure to become a foundation for innovative new services and applications.

VoiceTech

Track Chair: Joe Smetana

Speech technology has changed the nature of our daily interactions. From voice assistants to conversational bots, speech and artificial intelligence technologies give way to amazing opportunities for business applications as well as academic research.

Natural language understanding is foundational to voice-powered technology. When this technology is performing at its best, the user experience is natural, fluid, and efficient. When it breaks down, the results can be frustrating. Despite recent advances in the field of AI, most conversational technologies still require a high degree of design skill to make this technology useful and effective. The recent introduction of Large Language Models, like ChatGPT, is one example of exciting advances being made in the field of generative AI. However, there are ethical implications associated with the use of such models including concerns related to privacy, data security, and ethics.

This track brings attendees up-to-date on current and emerging NLU/NLP technology, analyzing how state-of-the-art technology is applied and the potential implications when it fails. We will cover concepts related to conversational AI including, but not limited to, ethical and practical uses of LLMs, conversational design, voice biometrics and authentication, as well as best practices for the collecting, generating, and annotating of voice data. This track will highlight recent developments in NLU, challenge the operational impact of emerging technology, and identify opportunities for growth and improvement in the field of VoiceTech.

WebRTC & Real-Time Applications

Track Co-Chairs: Alberto Gonzalez and Muhammad Hamza Nasir

Real-time applications are now a critical part of our distributed lives, enabling us to stay connected through live audio and video, as well as real-time data transfers. WebRTC emerged as the standard for allowing easy access to the microphone and camera via the browser, enabling peer-to-peer video, audio, and data connections directly between browsers.

Since 2020, the usage of WebRTC grew more dramatically, increasing the need for scalability, higher quality, and usability. As an official standard announced by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), WebRTC is now being used in billions of browsers, mobile phones, and other devices across various industries such as social media, telecommunications, healthcare, education, broadcasting, and more.

In this track we will:

• Explore the current status of WebRTC from both standards and market perspectives
• Learn about the latest Open Source project updates
• Delve into best practices for implementing real-time applications using WebRTC 
• Learn how people are scaling WebRTC
• Examine leading use cases for WebRTC applications and integrations with AI and much more!

Join us to discover the latest advancements in WebRTC and explore its potential for enhancing modern applications.

Next Generation Emergency Communications Services

Track Chair: Mark J. Fletcher – ENP

This year, the NG911 track focuses on the monumental shift in data from the legacy network to the advanced capabilities of Next Generation 911 (NG911) services. This evolution heralds a new era for public safety, introducing vast new data sets, multimedia communication channels, and the integration of artificial intelligence to support call takers and emergency responders.

Topics of interest for 2024 will include:

• The transition to NG911: Lessons learned and the path forward.
• The adoption and ethical considerations of artificial intelligence and assistive decision applications in public safety.
• Use Cases for AI monitoring for Quality Assessment (QA), Quality Improvement (QI), procedural compliance, and incident recommendations.

This popular discussion track has been a cradle for innovation and groundbreaking ideas that have shaped the future of emergency services. As we continue to document and drive the evolution of this sector, the contributions introduced here play a pivotal role in guiding the course of this paradigm shift in emergency response technology.

Join us in charting the course for future public safety solutions by sharing your insights, research findings, and visionary ideas on collectively navigating these complexities, or attend and learn by asking the experts questions. Either way, you’ll help redefine the emergency response landscape for a safer, more connected future.

Internet of Things

Track Co-Chairs: Alvin Chin and Rajesh Sankaran

Join us as we delve into the transformative landscape of Internet of Things (IoT) networks and technologies, projected to connect 34.4 billion smart objects to the Internet by 2032 (Transforma Insights). Witness how new applications harness the vast connectivity and data generated by these networked smart objects to pioneer innovative solutions.

We’ll cover key topics crucial for understanding the IoT revolution, including:

1. IoT Connectivity Technologies: Explore the diverse range of connectivity options like 5G, NB-IoT, and LoRaWAN, and their pivotal role in IoT deployments.
2. Security and Privacy: Delve into critical discussions on securing IoT networks and devices, addressing authentication, encryption, and data privacy concerns.
3. Interoperability and Standards: Address the importance of interoperability and standardization in the IoT ecosystem to ensure seamless communication between devices and platforms from different vendors. Discuss relevant standards bodies and initiatives working to establish common protocols for IoT connectivity and data exchange.
4. IoT Applications and Use Cases: Discover real-world deployments across various verticals, showcasing the transformative impact of IoT solutions.
5. Big Data and AI Integration: Explore how Big Data and Artificial Intelligence are revolutionizing IoT applications, from predictive maintenance to real-time analytics, enabling smarter decision-making and unlocking new possibilities for IoT-driven innovation.
6. Edge Computing and Fog Computing: Uncover the significance of edge and fog computing in reducing latency and processing data closer to the source, essential for optimizing IoT deployments.
7. Emerging Technologies and Trends: Gain insights into upcoming technologies such as 6G and satellite IoT, and their potential to shape the future of IoT ecosystems and networks.

Join us to connect with industry pioneers, gain invaluable insights from thought leaders, and explore the limitless possibilities of IoT in shaping the world of tomorrow. We’ll hear from industry innovators as well as researchers from academia as they share their latest developments, deployment activities, and research to explore how IoT is driving breakthroughs in decision-making, operational efficiencies, safety, security, and enhancing the overall customer experience across various IoT domains. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay at the forefront of IoT innovation!