IBC2024 Accelerator Project: IP networks: Finding the needle in the haystack

As broadcasters transition from traditional hardware to IP and cloud-based systems, they are faced with the daunting task of managing tens of thousands of IP senders, receivers, and nodes, each identified by complex numerical codes. This complexity makes it difficult for operators to locate and manage these devices, leading to increased operational costs, inefficiencies, and sustainability issues. This challenge is compounded by the lack of standardized solutions, with many broadcasters relying on ad-hoc, vendor-specific workarounds that are neither scalable nor reliable.

Peter Brightwell, Research Engineer at the BBC and one of the leaders of the project, speaks to the complexities faced in this new environment: “Many broadcasters are now planning or building IP and cloud-based facilities, where previously they would have used dedicated video and audio connectivity and routers,” he says. “This promises great flexibility and scalability for future operations. But it also brings challenges of identifying devices, senders, receivers, and other resources. Technical operators might be presented with screens of cryptic identifiers, and if it’s difficult for them to find what they need, businesses won’t be able to respond to change quickly and there is also the danger that equipment will be left on when unused because of worries that it can’t be found again easily, with consequent sustainability implications.”...