METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LONG TERM MONITORING OF VIDEO ASSETS

• US 20120050545A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pham, Hung John, Clark, John Clayton IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/192
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems

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.

Claims

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; and

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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the difference is above the given threshold, detecting that the MHD is not associated with a freeze event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the MHD is one of a plurality of units under test (UUT) at an expert test monitor platform (ETMP) facility, and wherein the baseband video signal is routed from the MHD using a video matrix switch coupled to the plurality of UUTs, and further comprising:

requesting, from an ETMP master controller, access to the MHD as an active UUT;

controlling power supplied to the active UUT by sending a first network command to a network-based power controller;

selecting the baseband video signal by sending a second network command to generate a remote control signal instructing the active UUT to output an MCDN channel; and

sending a third network command to the video matrix switch to route the baseband video signal from the active UUT.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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; 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, detecting an audio freeze event associated with the MHD.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

when the video freeze event and the audio freeze event are both detected, sending a fourth network command to power down the MHD;

sending a fifth 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.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

waiting for a notification that, in response to the fifth network command, the MHD is operating normally.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending an electronic notification of the freeze alert to a predetermined network address.

8. A computerized test system for test monitoring output channels from a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:

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; 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; and

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.

9. The test system of claim 8, wherein the first memory media further include processor instructions executable to:

receive user input to generate a new ETMP test program, the user input including at least one of;

first input associated with the frame rate;

second input associated with an MCDN channel for selecting the baseband video signal;

third input associated with the current image;

fourth input associated with the next image;

fifth input associated with the threshold; and

sixth input associated with the video freeze event.

10. The test system of claim 9, wherein the sixth input specifies a network address for sending a notification of the video freeze event.

11. The test system of claim 9, wherein the sixth input specifies logging an indication of the video freeze event to the results of the ETMP test program.

12. The test system of claim 9, wherein the ETMP test program further includes instructions executable by the processor to:

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.

13. The test system of claim 12, wherein the user input further includes at least one of:

seventh input associated with the predetermined sampling rate;

eighth input associated with a number of acquired audio track(s);

ninth input associated with a duration of the portion of the audio data;

tenth input associated with the threshold; and

eleventh input associated with the audio freeze event.

14. The test system of claim 12, 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.

15. An expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) for test monitoring output channels from a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), comprising:

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; and

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.

16. The ETMP of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one ETMP configurator configured to generate new ETMP test programs;

an ETMP database for storing ETMP test programs and test results; and

an ETMP network configured to connect the MHDs, the ETMP executor(s), the ETMP configurator(s), and the ETMP database.

17. The ETMP of claim 15, further comprising:

a first means coupled to the ETMP network for controlling power supplied to the selected UUT in response to receiving a network power control command associated with the ETMP test program;

a second means coupled to the ETMP network for selecting an MCDN channel for the baseband video signal in response to receiving a channel selection command associated with the ETMP test program; and

a third means for routing a plurality of baseband video signals from the plurality of MHDs to the at least one ETMP executor.

18. The ETMP of claim 17, wherein the third means is a video matrix switch coupled to the ETMP network and configured to selectively switch the plurality of baseband signals to any one or more of a plurality of video grabber inputs associated with the at least one ETMP executor, in response to receiving a network video switch command associated with the ETMP test program.

19. The ETMP of claim 15, wherein the ETMP test program further includes instructions executable to:

acquire, at a predetermined sampling rate, at least one audio track generated by the selected UUT 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 selected UUT.

20. The ETMP of claim 19, 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.