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How does RPC calling work for a realtime multimoda...
# ask-ai
i
How does RPC calling work for a realtime multimodal agent?
t
Thanks for reaching out, Matthew. I'm an AI assistant and I'm here to help. Give me a moment while I research this topic.
RPC (Remote Procedure Calling) in LiveKit is a wonderful feature that allows real-time, two-way communication between a multimodal agent and other participants, like client applications or users. Let me walk you through how it works: • Registering an RPC Method: The agent can register methods using 
localParticipant.registerRpcMethod
. These methods are designed to handle incoming requests and can even update the agent’s behavior on the fly, such as changing voice settings or input/output modalities. • Performing RPC Requests: Participants can call these methods using 
performRpc
, sending data (like JSON) to the intended participant and waiting for a response. • Real-World Use Cases: This can be super helpful for things like updating UI elements, switching between audio and text input, or sending notifications to the frontend. • Error Handling: RPC also includes structured error handling and response timeouts to keep communication smooth and reliable. If you'd like, I’d be more than happy to share detailed examples and best practices to help you get started. Just let me know! Sources: packages/livekit-rtc/README.md | README.md | Remote method calls (RPC) | LiveKit Docs | agent/main.py | Docs::Home
i
On updating UI elements, please explain the current best method for doing so from a python backend
t
I'm glad you're exploring ways to update UI elements from a Python backend in LiveKit! The best approach here is using Remote Procedure Calls (RPC). This method lets your backend call specific functions on the frontend, making it super easy to update things like form fields, highlight areas, or show notifications exactly when you need. Here’s a simple way to get started: 1. Register an RPC Handler on the Frontend: You can use 
localParticipant.registerRpcMethod
to set up a handler for a method name, such as 
client.updateForm
. This way, your frontend knows what to do when it receives the call. 2. Invoke RPC from the Backend: From your Python backend, use 
perform_rpc
to send the update. For example:
Copy code
await room.local_participant.perform_rpc(
    destination_identity=client_identity,
    method="client.updateForm",
    payload=json.dumps({"action": "updateField", "field": "role", "value": "Engineer"})
)
1. Handle Updates in the Frontend: Once the frontend receives this, you can process the payload to update your DOM, React state, or any other UI components accordingly. If you'd like, I’m here to help with more detailed examples or to walk you through your specific setup. Just let me know! Sources: complex-agents/role-playing/agents/base_agent.py | Docs::Home | agent-console/app/_components/participant-action-panel.tsx | Docs::Home | livekit-rtc/livekit/rtc/participant.py
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