P4 Programmable Switches for Scalable Media Micro-services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Session Border Controllers (SBCs) are limited in their ability to provide media services efficiently and scalably, as they can only impact packets at their data plane, leading to congestion and bottlenecks, and require dedicated media resources, which restricts their scalability and effectiveness in managing bandwidth and security across the network.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a packet plane control service entity that leverages P4-enabled devices to provide micro-services for media streams across the network, allowing for media manipulation and security services without relying on dedicated media resources, by using programmable switches and SDN controllers to route and process media packets more efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional SBCs are used to provide media services, then media services can be provided at the data plane, but congestion and bottlenecks occur and scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SBC functionality into control plane and data plane components, allowing media services to be provided through distributed P4-enabled devices rather than requiring all media processing to occur at a centralized SBC data plane. This segmentation eliminates congestion at the SBC while maintaining service functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces P4-enabled devices as intermediaries between the SBC control plane and the media flows. These devices are programmed via SDN controllers to perform media service functions locally, acting as mediators that eliminate the need for media packets to traverse the SBC data plane, thereby removing bottlenecks.
2Reliability
If dedicated media resources are allocated in SBCs, then media services can be provided, but scalability is restricted as the number of sessions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes P4-enabled devices universal by allowing them to perform multiple media service functions (transcoding, mixing, recording, etc.) through programmable logic. Instead of dedicated hardware for each function, a single P4 device can be reconfigured via SDN controllers to provide any required media service, enabling scalable deployment without proportional increases in dedicated resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of media service delivery by moving from static dedicated resource allocation in SBCs to dynamic programmable resource allocation in P4 devices. The service behavior is controlled by modifying P4 program logic and SDN controller configurations rather than physically adding dedicated media resources, enabling flexible scaling.
3Ease of operation
If SBCs anchor media sessions, then media services can be controlled, but backhaul costs increase and network flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the SDN controller pre-program P4-enabled devices with the appropriate media service logic before media flows arrive. This allows media services to be automatically performed at the edge devices without requiring backhaul to centralized SBC resources, reducing transport costs while maintaining control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional approach to media service delivery by distributing services across multiple P4-enabled devices throughout the network rather than concentrating them at a single SBC location. This spatial distribution eliminates the need for media backhaul to a centralized point, reducing costs while maintaining service control through the SDN overlay.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to communications methods, apparatus and systems for providing media micro-services in a scalable and efficient manner. In an exemplary method embodiment, a packet plane control service entity performs the following operations: (i) receives a request from a Signaling-Session Border Controller to implement one or more micro-services on a media packet stream, the request including information about the media packet stream including stream identification information; generates instructions for one or more entities under the control of the packet plane control service entity to implement the requested one or more micro-services on the media packet stream; and communicates the generated instructions to the one or more entities under the control of the packet plane control service entity for implementation on the media packet stream.