Implementing Video Broadcast Specific Functions into next-generation user-programmable ASIC

Abstract

With the evolution of live video productions, the IP technology leaves some challenges and room for optimization. Using cutting-edge user-programmable ASIC switch, it is possible to put complexity inside the network that releases endpoints with more computations.

This master thesis explores the capabilities of the Tofino ASIC created by Barefoot Networks to directly optimize Broadcast IP flows using the P4 programming language.

A switch improved with the functionalities explored could replace traditional switches with a focus on quality in the final render.

First, this work details a video clean switching functionality entirely performed in the network. In a second step, the replication of multicast flows is also possible in a short and quantified amount of time. To conclude, programs were created for the welcoming company and tests were created to evaluate performances and usability of telemetric functionalities. A new data collection protocol was defined and tested to collect metadata. Exploitation cases of those metrics were explored.

This work consists in the first stage in using built-in packet replication, performing complex NAT switching, and understanding the telemetry capabilities of a programmable data plane.