Spectra2 VQM Video Quality Measurement Release 1.0 is a portable, software-only application that can monitor MPEG-TS video streams transported over IP in real time. Users can monitor IPTV video streams and collect statistics on three levels, including RTP packet data, packet loss, network jitter, continuity information, and syncing information. Users can also analyze content quality using MOS scores and measurements for blockiness, jerkiness, and blurriness.

Spectra2 VQM collects pre- and post-FEC (forward error correction) statistics and video streams. Perform IPTV monitoring anywhere that an Ethernet connection is present to monitor and collect data on video streams in real time. Carriers can monitor video statistics in a customer’s home, or place Spectra2 VQM at a DSLAM site to monitor video sent to the customer site. Equipment manufacturers can use Spectra2 VQM to view packet loss before and after it is corrected by FEC algorithms, enabling them to correctly calibrate equipment features and bandwidth utilization. Pre- and post-capture packet stream data is displayed in a graphical format for easy detection of errors and can also be saved to a file for later analysis.

Spectra2 VQM Brings Portable Monitoring to IPTV
The success of IPTV — streaming video programming delivered over IP networks — will only be as good as the quality of the images. Carriers and equipment manufacturers who can identify, isolate and diagnose image quality problems will be in the best position to win and retain customers. Spectra2|VQM is a portable software solution for personal computers or laptops that can perform real-time monitoring of MPEG-TS video streams delivered over IP networks. Users can easily configure destination and source video streams, capture key statistics that monitor image quality, view those statistics in a powerful graphical format, apply filters for IP ports and program channels, collect statistics and video files, and save statistical data for later analysis. Customer support personnel can view video captured in a program channel and monitor video statistics at the customer's home in real time. Spectra2|VQM can also run in a DSLAM site or central office that has Ethernet access to program channels. Users can log in remotely to monitor video quality for a specific customer's channel — all in real time.

Simple Configuration for Robust MPEG-TS Analysis
The Spectra2|VQM software includes an easy-to-use interface for configuring the real-time capture of video stream statistics.

• Choose from standard FEC algorithms, including CoP3-R2 and RFC 2733.

• Set test duration and jitter buffer size.
  Collect pre- and post-FEC stream IP statistics such as packet total, packet loss, minimum/maximum/average jitter, maximum consecutive errors and maximum window errors.

• Collect MPEG transport stream statistics like sync loss, continuity, PID error and PCR statistics, and transport MOS and video elementary stream statistics pre- or post-FEC using a pre-selected algorithm. Users can also save captured video streams to disk, pre- or post-FEC.

• Content statistics such as MOS, blockiness, blurriness, and jerkiness can be collected pre- or post-FEC.

• Content analysis can be performed from within the IPTV configuration application in real time.

• Monitor 1 HD or up to 4 SD video streams simultaneously

• Capture video data, view video packets, determine payload type

• Database can store MPEG transport video files for later analysis

• Collect RTP-based Statistics to track the total number of packets transmitted or lost during a test cycle

• Determine MOS scores, and measure errors such as blurriness, jerkiness, and blockiness

• Monitor on RTP packet basis and on an MPEG transport stream basis

Solve QoS Problems in Real Time
Spectra2|VQM gives users the ability to see video packet loss before and after it is corrected by an FEC (forward error correction) algorithm. Users have access to a suite of statistical features that allow image correction in real time, including the ability to:

• Fine-tune codecs to use more or less bandwidth
• Fine-tune FEC streams for optimal correction of more turbulent networks
• Determine if the image sent matches the image the customer received
• Determine where the image problems are and what caused them (over-compression of codecs, packet loss)
• Respond to customer service requests on-site or remotely from a DSLAM (DSL Access Multiplexer)

Protocol Support

Minimum Hardware Requirements

Windows 2000 or Windows XP
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Minimum 512 MB RAM