Television operators are keen in measuring video picture quality from end user’s perspective, yet most solutions in the market tend to concentrate on the quality of service delivered over a network.

Unlike traditional service analysis, the Electronic Couch Potato^TM (ECP) evaluates signals ready to be consumed by a subscriber. By connecting after a STB, it emulates an end user changing channels on the STB via a built-in infrared transmitter. The ECP then provides feedback on various service quality parameters to a central site.

Pixelmetrix is set to debut its latest exciting feature for the ECP – the Video Quality Index^TM (VQI).

Adding to the existing suite of ECP audio/video base

tests, VQI is a quality measurement tool that provides real-time evaluation of video quality that end users experience.

Video quality hinges on the presence of error in the image display. In this new ECP application, impairments that impact the end user’s experience of quality are quickly identified to allow corrective action. As the end user is continuously changing the channel, the ECP assigns each clip a Video Quality Index (VQI) from 1 to 100, which represents the quality of the picture. The VQI measurement, employing a non-reference and non-codec-specific algorithm, incorporates parameters such as blockiness, blurriness and packet loss artifacts and combines them to a single, integrated metric.

For instance, the test duration can be set to measure each channel quality over a sample of 10 minutes as well as obtaining a value for the measurement every 10 seconds or once every second during that period. In case of any disruption during the event, the operator can catch the particular single moment out of several hours. Results are consolidated across all channels and all remote site - making it easy to identify when and where video quality issues strike.

Enhanced with VQI, the Electronic Couch Potato is poised to transform viewer experience.