End-to-End, Real-time Analysis for the Main Adaptive Streaming Protocols

Leading content providers are now expanding their presence and delivering real-time content to mobile devices. Top mobile carriers add value for their subscribers by supporting this service. The new adaptive streaming protocols from Apple^®, Microsoft^® and Adobe^®, are the technology enablers to make it possible and IneoQuest is the first and only supplier of a complete monitoring solution for this service.

Video and transport monitoring of segmented transport streams is essential to ensuring high Quality of Service (QoS). When faults occur, pinpointing the root cause and location of the fault increases operational efficiency. IneoQuest delivers the only real-time, end-to-end monitoring and analysis solution to support this growing application. From the analysis of the MPEG video source, through its conversion into the adaptive streaming protocol up to the delivery point, IneoQuest tools enable full visibility of the traffic flows for prompt and efficient network management.

Unlike traditional video delivery methods, the new adaptive streaming protocols segment video into small clips. At the receiver, the segments are downloaded in correct sequence. This increases the complexity and need for real-time video and transport monitoring. To assist providers looking to deliver quality content to the mobile and internet viewers, IneoQuest has extended its award-winning Cricket™ probes and application knowledge to support this new protocol suite and enable complete visibility of traffic flows throughout the entire transport process.

Applications Oriented to Content Providers and Network Operators streaming video over bandwidth-constrained media Real-time monitoring of network performance

Key Benefits Integrated solution for easy deployment and operation Efficient network troubleshooting

Key Features End-to-end analysis of live content delivery to mobile viewers Proven solution leverages IneoQuest expertise in multi-dimensional video quality management

For easy deployment and operation, IneoQuest created a starter kit solution that provides the essential components for end-to-end monitoring of the live streaming service from day one. The solution kit includes:

Geminus G2X Analysis of incoming MPEG transport streams before stream segmentation The most advanced 1Gb digital video monitoring, analysis, generation, and test tools. Based on state-of-the-art reconfigurable technology, the Geminus family offers scalability with true line rate, anywhere from 1Gb to 10Gb, Digital Video Quality & Service Assurance and Test & Measurement.

Cricket HLS Analysis of segmented video on HTTP Live Stream protocol before and after distribution The most cost effective way to audit, monitor, analyze and troubleshoot the video transport at the edge of the network. Cricket is small and easy to deploy, it can be strategically used to monitor signal health before and after distribution over a 3G network. The Cricket iPhone supports the new video streaming approach from Apple for delivering live broadcast video directly to the iPhone. It captures traditional and new transport metrics associated with the new Apple approach.

Additionally, joining the IneoQuest development partner program enables access to the new IQSegVue tool for iPhone and participation on the feedback panel for proposing new features.

User QoE Analysis Main control center For final monitoring and troubleshooting, content providers can leverage IQSegVue to monitor the quality of streaming video at the delivery point. IQSegVue serves as a video player on an iPhone or iPod Touch® and allows an engineer to request and join a live video broadcast to view the QoE in real time. With a few clicks, real-time statistics and measurement data about video quality metrics can be shown. Using this information, providers can pinpoint failures from the field and remotely troubleshoot issues.

For deeper analysis, IneoQuest also offers its portfolio of advanced analysis tools compatible with the iPhone streaming solution:

IQDVx™ Digital Video Explorer A new class of hybrid IP/MPEG analysis software which offers a comprehensive solution for isolating and debugging complex IP Video quality problems that traditional MPEG analyzers cannot address.

cPAR Consolidated Performance Analytics & Reporting Provides powerful trending and analysis tools that network engineers use for planning and proactive network development.