Ezserver Group Robert Request for Comments: draft-zcp-00 Ezhometech Inc. Category: Standards Track Ezserver 05/23/2025

Zero-Zap Channel Protocol --- ZCP/1.0

DRAFT - This document is subject to change
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the streaming and media distribution community and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) Ezhometech Inc. (2025). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
The Zero-Zap Channel Protocol (ZCP) is a lightweight, low-latency application-level streaming protocol designed to enable instant channel switching over the Internet for IPTV and OTT environments. Unlike traditional transport protocols such as HTTP or RTP, ZCP focuses specifically on eliminating zap time during channel transitions by unifying MPEG-TS streams and reducing connection overhead. ZCP enables providers to deliver fast, seamless live video experiences across Smart TVs, mobile devices, and set-top boxes without requiring multicast infrastructure or extensive buffering mechanisms. This specification defines ZCP/1.0, the initial version of the protocol.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .....................................................1
  1.1 Purpose .......................................................1
  1.2 Requirements ..................................................8
  1.3 Terminology ...................................................8
  1.4 Operation Overview ...........................................12
2. Protocol Architecture ...........................................14
  2.1 Channel Session Initialization ...............................14
  2.2 Zero-Zap Switching Model .....................................15
3. Transport and Encoding ..........................................17
  3.1 Stream Unification and Aggregation ...........................17
  3.2 MPEG-TS Handling and Format Negotiation ......................18
4. Network Behavior and Load Optimization ..........................20
  4.1 Connection Management ........................................21
  4.2 Reducing Latency .............................................22
5. Security Considerations .........................................24
6. Implementation Considerations ...................................25
7. References ......................................................26
Introduction
The Zero-Zap Channel Protocol (ZCP) is designed to solve one of the most critical issues in IPTV and OTT streaming: channel zap delay. Traditional streaming methods often introduce latency due to connection setup time, buffering, and server load when users switch between live streams. ZCP eliminates this delay, ensuring a seamless, instant channel change experience for users over the public internet. ZCP achieves this by restreaming multiple MPEG-TS sources into a unified stream format, optimized for rapid switching, while minimizing redundant HTTP requests and reducing stress on server infrastructure. The protocol is designed to be transport-agnostic but is typically used over TCP or QUIC for reliability and efficiency. This document defines the version 1.0 of the ZCP protocol, detailing its structure, behaviors, and deployment considerations.
Purpose
The purpose of ZCP is to provide IPTV and OTT service providers with a standardized, lightweight protocol that delivers: