At the 2017 NAB Show, Qligent will unleash the first ATSC 3.0 and OTT-specific solutions of its groundbreaking Vision cloud-based monitoring platform.

Vision-ATSC3 is one of several new Qligent systems and services being introduced at NAB that represent an expansion of the company’s Vision cloud-based monitoring portfolio. While the flagship Vision system is built to simplify monitoring, analysis and troubleshooting across the most intensive, enterprise-size multiplatform TV services, Vision-ATSC3 joins the recently-announced Vision-OTT in a new range of solutions built to serve specific TV platforms.

As with all Vision systems, customers need only common off-the-shelf hardware to collect and report performance data to Vision’s centralized (or Cloud-hosted) aggregation server for customizable dashboards and reports. Vision-ATSC3 can quickly, easily and cost-efficiently scale to address any sized system—an important benefit given that ATSC 3.0 systems will, in most cases, be deployed as single-frequency networks (SFNs) that include multiple transmitter sites.

Vision-ATSC3 will provide broadcasters with an easy-to-use workflow to correlate and analyze multi-layer data from nine distinct points along a signal path. This path spans from the broadcast gateway input sources to the antenna RF output, and will help broadcasters obtain a clear picture of cause-and-effect related to system problems and configuration changes, with overall optimization tools to establish a baseline proof-of-performance.

Because Vision-ATSC3 is a software based solution, it can be deployed now to baseline ATSC 1.0 performance, and provide oversight during the migration to ATSC 3.0. This will save considerable time and costs battling through problems related to new standards, products and workflows.

Vision-OTT

Vision-OTT leverages proven Qligent technologies, including the company’s highly scalable Virtual Probes with new efficiencies—notably Amazon Web Services to deploy, host and manage Qligent Virtual Probes from anywhere in the world.

Virtual Probes will be demonstrated in Qligent’s exhibit. They can analyze IP-based streams from anywhere in the field and present that data on a centralized Vision dashboard in the cloud. The Vision-OTT architecture will include a special aggregated server that communicates with and collects all field data from each probe or edge device. Merged with Amazon Web Services, the comprehensive Vision-OTT platform provides unparalleled reach and penetration into the high-density universe of OTT signal distribution and delivery.

Vision-OTT is an ideal solution for special one-time events, such as a sporting event or political debate, and can be deployed on short notice. For either single events or as a continuous monitoring platform, Vision-OTT is designed as a true SaaS with a pay-as-you-go model. This keeps costs manageable and offers a comfortable foundation to scale from—a highly valuable benefit for OTT services that can very quickly grow.

Monitoring as a Service

Qligent is also offering its popular Monitoring as a Service (MaaS), Qligent Oversight, as a managed service layer for Vision-OTT. This special service, called Oversight-OTT, will provide continuous offsite monitoring, event-based troubleshooting, incident-based and/or periodic analysis, comprehensive reporting, and recommendations to improve and scale services as warranted. This removes the burden from OTT service providers tasked with monitoring, analyzing, troubleshooting and optimizing very widely dispersed distribution and delivery systems that cross borders, continents and oceans.

Considering all the challenges of OTT monitoring, Qligent COO Ted Korte believes that Vision-OTT and Oversight-OTT takes a true problem-solving approach, a major departure from other solutions on the market.

Also at the 2017 NAB Show, Qligent will additionally demonstrate its 4K video and audio quality of experience (QoE) analysis including qMOS and full frame-rate macro-blocking root-cause analysis. The company will also demonstrate Vision-OTT’s remote multiviewer for signal processing, monitoring and all-in-one compliance recording, that eliminates the need for an external compliance component or service.