Volicon Observer® RPM to Enhance Quality of Service of Cogeco CableInstalled in Quebec and Ontario Headends, RPM Systems Will Automate and Improve Transmission Troubleshooting
BURLINGTON, Mass. — Oct. 7, 2009 — Volicon today announced that major Canadian cable provider Cogeco Cable (Cogeco) has purchased several Volicon Observer® Remote Program Monitor (RPM) systems to automatically scan and troubleshoot the company’s complete digital and analog channel lineup. Scheduled for installation at headends in Ontario and Quebec, the RPM units will enable Cogeco to monitor its transmissions proactively from its central NOC for more efficient operations and a better quality of service.
Currently, Cogeco relies on a number of automated and manual processes to monitor channels and troubleshoot transmission errors such as black screen, low or missing audio, black or static screen video, or macroblocking. The RPM systems will automate these processes by running in the background and continuously scanning each channel in the lineup.
“With the Observer RPM, our troubleshooting capabilities will be much more thorough. Not only will we be able to solve problems before customers call, but our engineers will be freed from repetitive monitoring tasks,” said David Zand, digital technologies engineer at Cogeco.
When a problem is detected, the Observer RPM automatically sends an e-mail notification to the operator in charge with a direct link to the video containing the error, enabling the operator to actively diagnose the problem. At the same time, the RPM creates a video log and a clip to provide a visual reference of the fault. The Observer RPM system’s intuitive Web-based interface gives operators total video control with the ability to search, retrieve, view, analyze, annotate, share, and export video from the desktop.
“After testing numerous monitoring systems, we chose the Observer RPM because of its advanced recording capabilities and also because of Volicon’s solid presence in the industry and track record for innovation,” said Zand. “The RPM’s ability to not only monitor transmissions, but also escalate the issues automatically will mean a large improvement in our overall quality of service. Plus, our ability to track signal problems to their source — for instance, a satellite company supplying a signal — will help us resolve problems more quickly and efficiently.”
“As cable companies expand their HD offerings and HD content becomes more available, viewers’ expectations for video quality are rising as well — so quality of service has become a top priority for companies like Cogeco,” said Julius Perl, vice president of marketing, Volicon. “Cogeco is a great example of how these companies are becoming more proactive about quality and customer service, and we’re pleased that the RPM is playing such a significant role.”
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About Cogecoz
Cogeco Cable (http://www.cogeco.ca) is a telecommunications company and is the second-largest cable operator in Ontario, Québec, and Portugal, in terms of the number of basic cable service customers served. Through its two-way broadband cable networks, Cogeco Cable provides its residential customers with audio, analog and digital television, as well as HSI and telephony services. Cogeco Cable also provides data networking, e-business applications, video conferencing, hosting services, Ethernet, private line, VoIP, HSI access, dark fibre, data storage, data security, and colocation services and other advanced communication solutions to its commercial customers. Cogeco Cable’s subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA).
About Volicon
Volicon is the broadcast and cable industry’s most efficient, reliable, and cost-effective automated multi-channel video content logging and monitoring system for compliance, media analysis, content repurposing, and quality of service. Its Observer® real-time, digital video monitoring and logging solutions are based on Volicon’s patent-pending Video Monitoring Architecture (VMA). VMA is comprised of a multi-channel video streaming engine, interactive search, content analytics, and service monitoring and alarming capabilities. Volicon products and services meet the demanding requirements of broadcasters, cable and IPTV service providers, and enterprise and government organizations looking to improve broadcast product quality, enhance video management, and lower costs. For more information, visit http://www.volicon.com.
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