-static uint32_t rtp_time; /* RTP timestamp */
-static struct timeval rtp_time_real; /* corresponding real time */
+
+/** @brief RTP timestamp
+ *
+ * This counts the number of samples played (NB not the number of frames
+ * played).
+ *
+ * The timestamp in the packet header is only 32 bits wide. With 44100Hz
+ * stereo, that only gives about half a day before wrapping, which is not
+ * particularly convenient for certain debugging purposes. Therefore the
+ * timestamp is maintained as a 64-bit integer, giving around six million years
+ * before wrapping, and truncated to 32 bits when transmitting.
+ */
+static uint64_t rtp_time;
+
+/** @brief RTP base timestamp
+ *
+ * This is the real time correspoding to an @ref rtp_time of 0. It is used
+ * to recalculate the timestamp after idle periods.
+ */
+static struct timeval rtp_time_0;
+