Ability to set timeout or run connect/play in background for SRTConnection

[noho501]

Question

Hi,

I’m using SRTStream, and I’ve noticed that when attempting to connect to an SRT server using the URL above, if the server is not running, the connect call blocks the main thread.

Could you please advise if there is a way to set a timeout for connect? Alternatively, would it be recommended to call connect and play on a background thread to prevent blocking the main thread?

Background / Tried Steps

I’m using the following SrtPlayback class:

class SrtPlayback {
    let connection = SRTConnection()
    lazy var stream = SRTStream(connection: connection)
    private let audioEngine = AVAudioEngine()
    private lazy var audioPlayer = AudioPlayer(audioEngine: audioEngine)
    private(set) var ipAddress: String
    private var outputs: [StreamOutput] = []

    deinit {
        print("SrtPlayback deinit")
    }
    
    init(with ip: String) {
        ipAddress = ip
    }
    
    func add(output: StreamOutput) async {
        await stream.addOutput(output)
        outputs.append(output)
    }
    
    func remove(output: StreamOutput) async {
        await stream.removeOutput(output)
        outputs.removeAll { $0 === output }
    }
    
    func removeAllOutput() async {
        for output in outputs {
            await stream.removeOutput(output)
        }
    }
    
    func getReadyState() async -> StreamReadyState {
        await stream.readyState
    }
    
    private func startStream() async throws {
        try await self.connection.connect(
            URL(string: "srt://\(self.ipAddress):9991?mode=caller&latency=100&maxbw=0&pkt_size=1316&snd_buf=4194304")
        )
        await stream.play()
    }
}

The main thread blocks at:

try await self.connection.connect(
    URL(string: "srt://\(self.ipAddress):9991?mode=caller&latency=100&maxbw=0&pkt_size=1316&snd_buf=4194304")
)

If I comment out these lines, the main thread works fine.

I also tried using Task.detached:

Task.detached(priority: .userInitiated) {
    try await connection.connect(
        URL(string: "srt://\(ipAddress):9991?mode=caller&latency=100&maxbw=0&pkt_size=1316&snd_buf=4194304")
    )
}
try await self.stream.play()

…but then the stream cannot play after connecting.

Environment

• iPad mini 6
• Haishinkit main branch

Thank you for your guidance.

[shogo4405]

1. You can configure thetimeout as follows:
   • srt.path?conntimeo=
   • Please see https://github.com/Haivision/srt/blob/master/docs/API/API-socket-options.md#srto_conntimeo
2. I’m assuming that play will be called within the same task as shown below.

Task.detached(priority: .userInitiated) {
    try await connection.connect(
        URL(string: "srt://\(ipAddress):9991?mode=caller&latency=100&maxbw=0&pkt_size=1316&snd_buf=4194304")
    )

    try await stream.play()
}

[noho501]

It works. Thank you so much.

[shogo4405]

Since this is in the Q&A category, I think others may have the same question, so it’s fine to keep it open after Mark as answer.
On the other hand, for bug-fix issues or feature-addition ideas, I prefer to close them.

So I’ll leave this one open.