SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2011 - Volicon Booth 920
Georgia World Congress Center | Atlanta, GA - November 15-17, 2011
Company Overview:
Volicon provides the broadcast and cable industries with the most efficient, reliable, and cost-effective automated multichannel video content logging and monitoring system for compliance, media analysis, content repurposing, and quality of experience. Its Observer® real-time digital video monitoring and logging solutions are based on Volicon’s patented Virtual Media Network (VMN). Volicon Observer’s core is comprised of a multichannel 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.
Volicon Products at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2011:
Observer® TS
The new Observer® TS (MPEG Transport Stream) logging system helps cable, satellite, and IPTV operators to address the volume and complexity of broadcast and network service ingest handoffs by reducing the time and cost required to monitor and troubleshoot these handoffs. The system allows users to continuously record (log) MPEG transport streams, monitor the A/V content including BS.1770-2 loudness, as well as remotely stream and export the programs. The system handles MPEG-2 and H.264 video as well as MP3, AC-3, and AAC audio over IP, ASI, QAM and 8-VSB MPEG TS interfaces. Because Observer TS logs the full transport stream, the user is able to go back one hour, day, week, or month to examine and/or export content and effectively eliminate chronic issues with service handoffs. The low bit rate proxies and DVR-like frame-accurate controls allow for easy content review, even when operated over an enterprise or WAN. The logging, easy review, and export allow pay-TV operators to troubleshoot quickly and distinguish customers’ issues in their network from issues with the service handoff.
Image Link: http://www.wallstcom.com/Volicon/ObserverTSScreenshot.zip
Image Caption: Observer® TS
New Observer® RPM Version 6.0
The latest release of the Observer® Remote Program Monitor(RPM) fulfills the video industry’s growing need to assure the quality of critical on-demand and interactive services and advertising by leveraging automated video monitoring tools that can emulate customer actions. The RPM also now incorporates a new, low-latency remote control that allows quick remote operation while continuously logging content.
Through an easy-to-use Web interface, this post-set-top-box solution allows operators to monitor hundreds of channels, troubleshoot real-time video issues, and verify broadcast content and advertising in an exportable 24/7 log. By providing a remote view of the customer’s experience at the point the customer experiences it, the Observer RPM 6.0 enables providers to identify and troubleshoot problems with linear, on-demand, and interactive content quickly, before they turn into customer complaints — and avoid costly chronic troubleshooting sessions.
Specifically addressing the effective management of large-scale installations, the Observer RPM 6.0’s new Element Management Services (EMS) module enables centralized configuration and alert management of multiple probes in a large operation. RPM 6.0 also includes significant enhancements to the Interactive Services Module (ISM), which enables reliable testing of complex on-demand or interactive services using pattern matching, advanced decision making, and improved quality-of-experience (QoE) detectors. The ISM now includes an Interactive Services Wizard, a desktop application for developing reliable interactive services scripts, and a module that enables the ISM to work with every encoder in the operation.
Volicon Modules at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2011:
Loudness Monitoring
With commercial loudness being legislated in the United States with the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act and regulated according to BS.1770-2 and ATSC A/85, it’s more important than ever that pay-TV operators are able to monitor loudness in real time as well as provide an affidavit of compliance for their local ad insertions.
Featuring intuitive overlay controls within its Web-based interface, the Observer allows headends to maintain continuous measurements that identify program loudness and loudness range. The Volicon system measures momentary, short-term, and integrated measurements, with adjustable short-form (e.g., 10, 15, 30, 60 seconds) and long-form (days) time frames that make it easy to compare the ad loudness to surrounding content. The Observer system enables users to view and export ad A/V affidavits with audio, video, and frame-accurate loudness measurements burned in, which facilitates fast resolution of loudness complaints. The system’s fully compliant integrated loudness monitoring not only simplifies the overall monitoring workflow, but also adds value by eliminating the hassle and cost of working with external systems.
Loudness monitoring is available on all Observer product lines.
Image Link: http://www.wallstcom.com/Volicon/LoudnessMonitoringScreenshot.zip
Image Caption: Loudness Monitoring
MPEG TS Proof of Experience using Triggered Recording
The triggered recording module for the Observer® Remote Program Monitor (RPM) provides cable operators with visual “proof of experience” related to MPEG impairments. The module leverages SNMP alerts from an MPEG transport stream analyzer to identify stream issues, dial the affected channel, and create an A/V clip highlighting the MPEG impairment. With access to these automatically generated clips, engineers can evaluate the severity of the issue and focus their efforts on the impairments that most affect the customer experience. The cable operator, as a result, can improve its service levels and reduce technician dispatch costs.
Ad Verification using Triggered Recording
The triggered recording module of the Observer® Remote Program Monitor (RPM) supports Volicon’s ad verification module, which allows operators to log and perform A/V quality checks on ad insertions or high-value programs. The module leverages the Observer RPM system to change channels and record an entire ad insertion window. With 24/7 recording, users can clip and export full-motion, full-frame-rate recordings of A/V ad assets for troubleshooting or proof of delivery, skipping time-consuming troubleshooting sessions.
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Volicon’s quote:
“The increasing number and complexity of A/V service handoffs, as well as the challenge of accurate ad insertion across growing channel lineups, make efficient video monitoring a critical part of today’s cable operations,” said Andrew Sachs, Volicon’s vice president of product management. “At SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2011, we’ll showcase Observer systems and modules designed to automate and simplify key monitoring tasks, facilitate rapid resolution of impairments to ensure maximum uptime, and provide the verification required to maintain agreements with content providers, advertisers, and regulators.”
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