VSF Releases Specification for RIST Relay
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Editor
| 12 July 2023
Marking the third release in a series of ancillary features for its specifications, the Video Services Forum (VSF) has enhanced the Reliable Internet Streaming Transport (RIST) protocol by incorporating a RIST Relay function to address the issue of firewall traversal.
RIST Forum 12July2023
Developed jointly by a group of experts using a standards-based approach, RIST is designed to provide an open, interoperable and technically robust solution for low-latency live video transport over unmanaged networks such as the Internet.

It provides what is said to be an open, interoperable and technically robust solution for low latency video contribution. It sees use in where video needs to be transported over the Internet, but is typically used for professional media workflows, such as news and sports contribution, remote production, affiliate distribution and primary distribution.

With RIST, interoperability is said to have been achieved through clear specifications, while vendors remain free to innovate within their own implementations. The new RIST Relay provides a connection service to RIST devices using the RIST Advanced Profile. RIST devices connect to the RIST Relay as a rendezvous point, and the RIST Relay either facilitates a direct connection between the RIST devices or relays the traffic between them. The RIST Relay is also capable of supporting group operation (many-to-many communication).

"The RIST Relay function allows devices to connect simply and securely across firewalls, without needing to open ports in advance,” said Adi Rozenberg, CTO and co-founder of Alvalinks and RIST forum director.

“Using a proxy device that is external to the organisation and a SIP like mechanism to connect peers and organisations, RIST Relay massively simplifies connectivity, solving many real-life broadcast problems. The RIST Relay is an exciting development that brings much needed functionality to the market, enabling many new user applications.”