Ping – time which is necessary for information for overcoming distance from one user to another. Such factors as a delay in the user's PC, on the server of provider, in trunk lines, etc. can increase the value of a ping.
Ping is time with which information extends from the user's computer to the server and back or to the computer of other user. Ping is in some way connected with the speed of the Internet: the speed is lower, the ping is higher.
What the big ping is fraught with
The value of a ping affects quality of communication in real time. It is especially relevant in case unlimited mobile communication or an option of a videoconference is used. Communication on "air" assumes immediate dissemination of information from the interlocutor to the interlocutor, preliminary buffering in this case is impossible. If the ping reaches big value, there are noticeable delays, the sound can "stammer" and even to vanish for some time.
What influences the general propagation delay of a signal
1. Delay in the user's computer. Most often it occurs at big loading of the processor and insufficient random access memory capacity. I.e. if the user during the conversation checks files an antivirus, something downloads from the Internet or looks for in a large number of open windows of the browser, the information stream from the video camera or the microphone can be interrupted.
2. Delay on the server of provider. The cheap hosting can also lead to similar problems. If the provider uses the obsolete equipment, he can not manage to process information packages, the additional delay results.
3. The server which processes information. Not all servers are capable to process the considerable weight of the video image quickly.
4. Trunk lines. All information in network is transmitted on fiber-optic cables or through air at very big speeds. In these channels the signal moves at the speed of light that it is lower than the speed of light in a vacuum. Especially as on the path the signal meets a large number of amplifiers and converters of light signals in electric. And though the servers routers which are automatically sending information streams to less loaded channels do everything for the solution of this problem, all the same general system complexity cannot but create some delays.
5. It should be taken into account that from the server information covers the same distance in the opposite direction, moving to loudspeakers or the monitor of other PC or the mobile device, overcoming new delays.
"It is impossible put on a pause" the interlocutor. The sound and videos proceeding from him are not saved in spool files, and at once arrive to the recipient. Therefore it is not possible to reduce possible signal delays by means of any program tricks.