The functions and scope of real-time mixed media applications are expanding as these applications are integrated with Data, ML/AI, Blockchain, Voice- and Financial Technologies, Quantum Computing, IoT, and more. The RTC Conference Research Track is specifically interested in exploring the issues, opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of these disparate technologies.
The Research Track of RTC invites paper submissions in interactive 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 multimedia interactive communications with technologies as diverse as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Quantum Computing, Internet of Things, Vehicular Networking and Communications, Confidential Computing, Network Management, Programmable Network Services, Security, Privacy, Voice Technologies, Blockchain, Gaming, and Robotics. The Technical Program inherits the 17-year legacy of the IPTComm Conference.
Topics include (not limited to)
Real-Time and Multimedia Communications
- WebRTC applications and protocols
- Interactive multimedia systems (video, audio, AR/VR, gaming, robotics)
- Cloud-based and distributed communications
- Time-sensitive networking and ultra-low latency applications
- Real-time streaming protocols and media transport optimizations
- Synchronization and jitter management
Network Technologies and Architectures for RTC applications
- 5G/6G networks and beyond
- SDN and NFV
- Edge computing, fog computing, and cloud-native applications
- IoT networks and industrial communications
- Vehicular networking (V2X)
- Programmable networks and service orchestration
AI and Machine Learning in RTC Applications and Services
- Explainable AI, SHAP/LIME, visualization techniques
- AI/ML in real-time network automation and optimization
- Large language models and conversational AI
- Speech recognition, synthesis, and NLP
- AI-driven network security
- Predictive maintenance and anomaly detection
Security, Privacy, and Resilience
- Identity management, authentication, and encryption
- Intrusion detection and mitigation
- Blockchain for secure communications
- Privacy-aware computation and data protection
- Network reliability, resilience, and disaster recovery
- Zero-trust architectures
Quality, Performance, Reliability and Experience
- QoS and QoE assessment
- Performance metrics and benchmarking
- Network survivability and self-healing
- AI-driven predictive analytics for quality optimization
- SLAs and compliance monitoring
- Quantum Computing
Submission Guidelines
Paper submissions must describe original research, not published nor currently under review elsewhere. At least one author of each paper must be registered and present at the conference.
- All submissions via EDAS
- Follow IEEE Manuscript Templates
- Regular papers: 4 to 8 pages, double-column IEEE format
- Work-in-progress papers: no more than 4 pages, with "Work in Progress" in the title
Policy on Using Large Language Models (LLMs)
Policy on Using Large Language Models (LLMs) in Manuscripts Submitted for Publication in Conferences and Journals.
The following rules complement the IEEE rules listed in Author Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Generated Text.
When submitting a manuscript, the authors implicitly confirm that they have read, understood, and followed the rules for acceptable use of LLMs. In particular, the authors confirm that any output of these tools used in the manuscript has been thoroughly checked, including careful text editing, verification of audio/visual content, and testing of any code to ensure correctness.
The basic principle informing the following acceptable use rules is that authors should take full responsibility and ownership for their research and the content of their submitted manuscript. In particular, it is unacceptable for any section of a manuscript to be entirely produced using an LLM.
Acceptable uses
- For improving language and clarity during the editing process.
- For accelerating code development and visualization.
- Research and ideation (identifying related work, feedback on ideas, etc.).
Unacceptable uses
- Using an LLM to generate most (or significant components) of a manuscript (as opposed to improving the clarity of author-composed text).
- Direct use of LLM-generated code without subsequent thorough verification of correctness.
- Direct use of LLM-generated text without subsequent thorough verification of correctness and accuracy for any section of the manuscript, including an introduction, a related work section, and a summary of prior work (distinct from a related work section).
Important Dates
- Paper submission deadline: Friday, July 17, 2026, 23:59h (Chicago time)
- Notification of acceptance: Monday, August 24, 2026
- Final camera-ready submission: Monday, September 7, 2026
- Conference Dates: September 22-23, 2026 (Hermann Hall, IIT Main Campus, Chicago, IL, USA)
Conference Chair
Alvin Chin (IEEE Chicago Section)
Research Track Chairs
- Mihaela Chelaru (University of Illinois in Chicago, USA)
- Eiji Oki (Kyoto University, Japan)
- Mounish Sunkara (Gamma Technologies LLC, USA)
Technical Program Committee
TBC