Method and system for long term monitoring of video assets
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring an output channel of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:
- acquiring, at a predetermined frame rate, a selected baseband video signal output by a multimedia handling device (MHD) configured as a terminal device of the MCDN, wherein a series of frame images are generated according to the frame rate;
selecting a current image and a next image in the series of frame images;
when a difference between the next image and the current image is below a given threshold, detecting a video freeze event associated with the MHD;
acquiring, at a predetermined sampling rate, at least one audio track generated by the MHD and corresponding to the selected baseband video signal, wherein audio data are generated according to the sampling rate;
when a signal power of a portion of the audio data corresponding to the current image and the next image is below a given threshold, detecting an audio freeze event associated with the MHD;
when the video freeze event and the audio freeze event are both detected, sending a first network command to power down the MHD;
sending a second network command to power up the MHD; and
recording a freeze alert for the MHD, including recording an indication of the video freeze event and the audio freeze event.
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Abstract
A method and system for test monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may be used to test monitor MCDN performance by acquiring a baseband video signal and performing a test operation. The test operation may involve determining if a video freeze event and/or an audio freeze event has occurred with respect to the baseband video signal. In one example, detection of both an audio and a video freeze event may determine a freeze event for an MHD. After a freeze event is detected, the MHD may be restarted. The freeze event may be logged as a result of the test operation. A predetermined network address may be sent a notification of the freeze alert.
19 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring an output channel of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:
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acquiring, at a predetermined frame rate, a selected baseband video signal output by a multimedia handling device (MHD) configured as a terminal device of the MCDN, wherein a series of frame images are generated according to the frame rate; selecting a current image and a next image in the series of frame images; when a difference between the next image and the current image is below a given threshold, detecting a video freeze event associated with the MHD; acquiring, at a predetermined sampling rate, at least one audio track generated by the MHD and corresponding to the selected baseband video signal, wherein audio data are generated according to the sampling rate; when a signal power of a portion of the audio data corresponding to the current image and the next image is below a given threshold, detecting an audio freeze event associated with the MHD; when the video freeze event and the audio freeze event are both detected, sending a first network command to power down the MHD; sending a second network command to power up the MHD; and recording a freeze alert for the MHD, including recording an indication of the video freeze event and the audio freeze event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computerized test system for test monitoring output channels from a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:
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a processor coupled to first memory media; a network adapter accessible to the processor; and wherein the first memory media include processor instructions executable to; retrieve an expert test monitor platform (ETMP) test program from an ETMP database, wherein the ETMP includes; a plurality of multimedia handling devices (MHDs) configured to output MCDN program channels; and an ETMP network coupled to the network adapter and the ETMP database; execute the ETMP test program; store recorded results of the executed ETMP test program in the ETMP database; receive user input to generate a new ETMP test program, the user input including at least one of; first input associated with a frame rate; second input associated with an MCDN channel for selecting a baseband video signal; third input associated with a current image; fourth input associated with a next image; fifth input associated with a threshold; and sixth input associated with a video freeze event; and wherein the ETMP test program includes instructions executable by the processor to; select one of the plurality of MHDs; acquire, at a predetermined frame rate, a selected baseband video signal output by the selected MHD, wherein a series of frame images are generated according to the frame rate; select a current image and a next image in the series of frame images; when a difference between the next image and the current image is below a given threshold, register a video freeze event associated with the MHD; acquire, at a predetermined sampling rate, at least one audio track generated by the selected MHD and corresponding to the selected baseband video signal, wherein audio data according to the sampling rate are generated; and when a signal power of a portion of the audio data corresponding to the current image and the next image is below a given threshold, register an audio freeze event associated with the MHD; wherein both the video freeze event and the audio freeze event are registered, and wherein the ETMP test program further includes instructions executable to; power down the MHD; power up the MHD; and include a freeze alert for the MHD in the ETMP results, including recording an indication of the video freeze event and the audio freeze event. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) for test monitoring output channels from a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:
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a plurality of multimedia handling devices (MHDs) configured as selectable units under test (UUTs) and configured to output MCDN channels; at least one ETMP executor configured to execute an ETMP test program; and wherein the ETMP test program includes instructions executable to; select one of the plurality of MHDs as a current UUT; acquire, at a predetermined frame rate, a selected baseband video signal output by the current UUT, wherein a series of frame images are generated according to the frame rate; select a current image and a next image in the series of frame images; when a difference between the next image and the current image is below a given threshold, register a video freeze event associated with the UUT; acquire, at a predetermined sampling rate, at least one audio track generated by a selected UUT and corresponding to the selected baseband video signal, wherein audio data according to a sampling rate are generated; and when a signal power of a portion of the audio data corresponding to the current image and the next image is below a given threshold, register an audio freeze event associated with the selected UUT; wherein both the video freeze event and the audio freeze event are registered, and wherein the ETMP test program further includes instructions executable to; power down the selected UUT; power up the selected UUT; include a freeze alert for the selected UUT in the ETMP results, including recording an indication of the video freeze event and the audio freeze event; and wait for a notification that, in response to powering up the selected UUT, the selected UUT is operating normally. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification