Broadcast video over IP presents unique challenges
Dec 27, 2006 8:00 AM
IPTVU: What problems do telcos face during this initial phase of IPTV service roll-out?
IV: Those responsible for the system face a three-part problem. First, can the “IP pathway” be reliably set up and torn down? A triple-play network needs to assure availability of network resources and bandwidth to deliver video services. However, video is bandwidth intensive, so it is equally important to ensure that pathways that are no longer needed can be torn down successfully. This requires test equipment capable of establishing and testing the IP pathway and providing statistics on network jitter and packet loss. These needs also apply to the provision of VoIP services. Tektronix offers the Spectra2|VQM for testing the IP pathway.
Second, is the video right at the source and destination? Once the IP pathway is established, it is then essential that the video data that is pushed into and received from the pathway is correct.
This requires the monitoring and analysis of the transport streams at the output of encoders, multiplexers and the headend. At the receiver end, similar monitoring and analysis is required to ensure there has been no degradation of the video as it passes through the system. These are commonly referred to as User Plane measurements. Tektronix offers the MTM400 and MTS400 products for this task.
Finally, is it a great customer experience? The final stage of the early deployment phase is to configure the system to deliver a high QoE. This requires the optimization of Control Plane (IGMP and RTSP) parameters. It is these protocols that influence the response time to user requests made from their remote controls, which is commonly referred to as “zap times.” Zap times are heavily dependent on the time required for IGMP protocols to leave one service and join another. As larger systems are deployed, this will be a major issue as the network elements will need to deal with numerous commands from the individual households connected to the service. Tools to measure zap times and other protocol exchanges are required. The Tektronix Spectra2|VQM is suited to this application.
IPTVU: You’ve mentioned some of the test and measurement solutions Tektronix is offering for the IPTV environment. The company has a history of playing in both the television and telecommunications world. How does that affect your offerings?
IV: Tektronix video and telecommunications network management and diagnostics domain knowledge is both broad and deep, making the company uniquely positioned to testthe convergence of voice, video and data. Tektronix has the video and communications expertise to deliver the right test methodologies and solutions to help bring IPTV services to market.
Tektronix offers the broadest — across multiple standards and video layers — and deepest — in-depth generation and analysis — solutions for compressed video test. Tektronix’s video test portfolio offers products to address IPTV applications, including the MTM400, which is used for 24/7 monitoring of broadcast services; the MTS400, which is used for in-depth R&D prototype and conformance testing by STB and infrastructure vendors; and the Spectra2|VQM, which is used for Control Plane measurements and Go/No Go video measurements of active networks.
Tektronix is focused on developing the most advanced test and measurement equipment for emerging technology and will continue to drive innovative new products for the new digital and converged world to meet the needs of customers in both broadcast video and communications.
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