Tektronix Sentry products are used to provide QoE (quality of experience) and PVQ (Perceptual Video Quality) information to network operators. With the addition of decryption and decode functionality, Sentry ABR is designed to gives service providers the same of monitoring they are accustomed to with linear-based services. After transcoding in a typical ABR workflow, a video stream is fragmented into fixed time duration fragments, encrypted and DRM applied. Sentry ABR is now capable of viewing this encrypted content to evaluate the actual QoE and PVQ.
"With the future of video delivery switching from linear to ABR, it is critical that service providers get the same level of monitoring with ABR services as they do with linear to truly understand the customer experience," said Charlie Dunn, general manager, Video Product Line, Tektronix. "Given the complexity of ABR content delivery, there is a lot that can go wrong, and service providers need to know about it before they start getting calls from subscribers. Our solution now offers end-to-end QoE monitoring throughout the ABR workflow so operators can quickly identify, troubleshoot and resolve issues."
For testing a high volume of small fragments and files at multiple bit rates, Tektronix offers Aurora, which is designed for scalable file-based QC and has tests specifically designed to catch the most common causes of ABR streaming problems. When used in conjunction with the frame accurate Hydra Player, operators can visualize their content and any issues detected. Operators can then add review information for those responsible for producing the ABR content.
From there, the Sentry platform is used to detect QoS (quality of service) anomalies in the network at the IP and MPEG TS layers as well as in QoE, identifying issues that represent the bulk of trouble calls from subscribers including frozen video, tiling/macroblocking and audio disruptions or audio-level and loudness issues. Within an ABR network, Sentry ABR is then used to ensure the availability of content and provide QoE analysis on each stream at each bitrate in real time.
