In a signal processing system, a programming system and method for a video network are provided. An event may trigger an RDMA controller to execute current instructions in a register update list. The triggering event may be a start-of-field signal from a live source or an end-of-frame signal. The current instructions may be used to modify the mode of operation of at least one of the network elements in the video network. The modification to the mode of operation may depend on whether the current video field is top field originated or bottom field originated. An interrupt may be used to initiate an interrupt handler that generates at least one new instruction and that updates the new instructions in the register update list. When a trigger occurs prior to an update of the register update list, the RDMA controller may execute the current instructions in the register update list.