Medius collects, organizes and displays information delivered from multiple devices in Tektronix' Sentry line of video quality monitoring solutions. These Sentry units, located at headends and other points throughout the cable network, monitor programs for issues that could affect the viewers' QoE with video, audio and other content in the transport stream.
The Medius Program Alert Dashboard contains three views: geographical, which displays all of the monitoring points on a map, making it easy to see those with alerts; grid, which shows a program's alert status across monitoring points; and tile, which offers a quick snapshot of the alert status of all programs, and highlights the most dire.The goal is to eliminate what Tektronix calls "process of elimination" methodology. By providing a broad, simultaneous view across multiple monitoring points, Medius can determine if the problem is in the headend, core network or outside plant. "The new Medius views take nothing away from the monitoring and reporting capabilities of the Sentrys, continuing to roll all of the information up to the Medius for current and historical reporting," an operator customer said.As one Diamonds judge pointed out, an increasing number of operators are building national video origination centers, which has put video quality monitoring in the spotlight. The content distribution network contains many devices, including those located in so-called "lights out" facilities, that can degrade QoE.Monitoring devices are needed at these locations to speed diagnosis and repair of any QoE problems. "This product addresses that need with remote monitoring hardware and what appears to be a very capable software based-platform intended for use in network operations centers," the judge said.www.tek.comSee them at Cable-Tec EXPO, Booth 537Return to the BTR Diamond Technology Reviews Elite.
