HYBRIDCAST - edge computing for streaming video

• Grant number: 21/07002-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering
• Agreement: MCTI/MC
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Vinicius Rayol Sobreiro
• Grantee: Marcos Vinicius Rayol Sobreiro
• Company: Nsports Conteúdo Esportivo S/A
• CNAE: Atividades de produção cinematográfica, de vídeos e de programas de televisão
• City: São Paulo
• Pesquisadores principais: Guilherme Augusto Almeida Lima de Figueiredo
• Associated researchers: Alessandro Rodolpho Gonçalves da silva ; Alex Lopes de Oliveira ; Henrique Ulisses Teixeira Caldas ; João Paulo Luiz Crispim ; Ligia Fagundes ; Marcela Fernandes Silva de Sousa ; Pedro Riviere Torrado
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/09689-0 - HYBRIDCAST - Computação de borda para video streaming - Conversor Multicast e Unicast DVR, BP.TT; 22/11048-3 - HYBRIDCAST - Edge Computing for Video Streaming - Monitoring and Control Module (CMS), BP.TT

Abstract

The simplest way of streaming is based on the client/server model (Unicast), in which a single server is responsible for servicing content requests. Server-side overhead in this model creates bottlenecks as the number of consumers increases, causing losses in bandwidth and speed of service. In applications with multiple recipients the Multicast methodology is advantageous over Unicast, because there is no unnecessary sending of data, they are routed exactly to the set of transmission recipients. The objective of this innovative research project is to develop a new solution, based on a hybrid mechanism combining Unicast and Multicast methodologies, that meets the major challenges of content distribution over the internet: reduced bandwidth consumption, greater resilience and robustness in the delivery of content, and low latency and low cost so that the solution is competitive in terms of the market and viable for live broadcasts. To implement this solution, edge computing resources will be used so that the servers used in this solution are self-managing, so that they are more resilient, and perform their tasks at a lower cost, thus increasing the distribution capillarity. Among the main challenges observed for project implementation, the following stand out: * the traditional Multicast methodology is a solution that brings a series of advantages, but it is not viable in a public network where it is not possible to manage switches / routers; * one of the challenges of Multicast distribution is the Digital Video Recorder (DVR), because if the client wants to "go back in time" in the transmission, it will have to connect with the edge server and receive a unicast stream from the last segment, and stop return to "live" it should reconnect to Multicast; *create a centralized management platform for edge servers integrated with the Content Management System (CMS) of TV NSports. The proposed solution will consist of a low-cost software, easily installable on common servers available on the market, will be composed of the following modules: Multicast Converter: module responsible for receiving content from an Origin Server (Origin Server) or a CDN via Unicast and delivering it via Multicast to the group of clients who are watching the same transmission; Unicast DVR: module responsible for recording live transmissions, it will also be responsible for creating a unicast stream for a client who wants a specific transmission (time shift), as requested by the Controller. After specific transmission the Unicast DVR must inform the Controller so that the client returns to the Multicast transmission group. Multicast Controller: this module will respond to requests for specific actions by the client (for example: replay of a move in a football broadcast), in this case the controller must identify the request, identify the client and forward it to the Unicast DVR module so that be created a specific unicast transmission for this client. (AU)