Hello Apple Community, We are working on a real-time streaming feature where we receive chunks of raw MP4 data through a custom protocol and store them in a buffer (array). Our goal is to use these data chunks to play a continuous video stream in AVPlayer. What We've Tried: Custom URL Scheme with AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate: We implemented a custom URL scheme (customscheme://) to serve the buffered data using AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate. The method shouldWaitForLoadingOfRequestedResource is called only during the initial allocation. It doesn't get triggered when new chunks are appended to the buffer. Despite appending new data to the buffer, AVPlayer doesn’t request further chunks from the delegate. What We Need: We are looking for a solution where: The player continuously fetches data from the buffer as new chunks are added. The playback remains smooth and uninterrupted, even with real-time data being appended. Ideally, this solution works with AVPlayer while adhering to HLS-like behavior without implementing an HLS server. Questions: Is AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate the right approach for this use case? If so, how can we ensure shouldWaitForLoadingOfRequestedResource is called whenever new data is available in the buffer? Are there alternative APIs or recommended patterns for playing real-time MP4 data chunks in AVPlayer? Would implementing a custom FFmpeg-based player be necessary, or can this be achieved using AVPlayer and its APIs? We appreciate any guidance, suggestions, or examples that can help us achieve this. Thank you!

Playing fMP4 Raw Chunks in AVPlayer on iOS

Hello Apple Community, We are working on a real-time streaming feature where we receive chunks of raw MP4 data through a custom protocol and store them in a buffer (array). Our goal is to use these data chunks to play a continuous video stream in AVPlayer.

What We've Tried:

Custom URL Scheme with AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate:

We implemented a custom URL scheme (customscheme://) to serve the buffered data using AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate.
The method shouldWaitForLoadingOfRequestedResource is called only during the initial allocation. It doesn't get triggered when new chunks are appended to the buffer.
Despite appending new data to the buffer, AVPlayer doesn’t request further chunks from the delegate.

What We Need:

We are looking for a solution where:

The player continuously fetches data from the buffer as new chunks are added.
The playback remains smooth and uninterrupted, even with real-time data being appended.
Ideally, this solution works with AVPlayer while adhering to HLS-like behavior without implementing an HLS server.

Questions:

Is AVAssetResourceLoaderDelegate the right approach for this use case?

If so, how can we ensure shouldWaitForLoadingOfRequestedResource is called whenever new data is available in the buffer?

Are there alternative APIs or recommended patterns for playing real-time MP4 data chunks in AVPlayer?
Would implementing a custom FFmpeg-based player be necessary, or can this be achieved using AVPlayer and its APIs?

We appreciate any guidance, suggestions, or examples that can help us achieve this. Thank you!