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1.2 Key Terms of Monitoring

This section defines the core concepts used throughout MultiProbe documentation:

  • Indicator — a measurable signal or device parameter
  • Monitoring — the automated process of detecting quality degradation
  • Monitoring Scheme — a document defining what to monitor
  • Monitoring System — the infrastructure that implements the scheme
  • Monitoring Object — a device, signal, or service being monitored

Indicator

An indicator (also referred to as a metric) is a measurable parameter of a device or signal used to assess quality. Indicators always have a numerical value and are measured at user-defined intervals.

A well-known example is the ETSI TR 101 290 standard, which defines quality indicators for digital television — including MPEG TS continuity error counts. Organizations may define their own indicators based on operational requirements.

Quality is assessed by comparing measured indicator values against acceptable thresholds (criteria). Criteria are defined in quality standards and can be customized by the user.

Monitoring

Monitoring is an automated process for the timely detection of quality degradation by comparing indicator values against predefined criteria.

The monitoring process consists of five key operations:

  1. Data acquisition
  2. Data analysis
  3. Generation of alarm events
  4. Visualization
  5. Logging

Monitoring Scheme

A monitoring scheme is a document that defines the list of indicators, devices, signals, and metrics to be monitored. It should accurately reflect both the geographical distribution of technical equipment and the organizational structure of the enterprise.

Before you begin

Develop the monitoring scheme only after thoroughly reviewing this manual to take full advantage of all MultiProbe capabilities.

Monitoring System

A monitoring system is a combination of servers, communication lines, and software used to implement a monitoring scheme. MultiProbe is the software component of such a system.

MultiProbe is an Automated Information System (AIS) — a system designed to inform operators without direct control over technological processes. It is deployed as a Hardware-Software Complex (HSC): a set of technical components consisting of software and hardware (servers, measuring devices, etc.).

Monitoring Objects

MultiProbe performs distributed (remote and/or local) monitoring of devices, software, and signals — collectively referred to as monitoring objects.

Monitoring objects include: servers, software applications, physical devices, signals, digital services, digital streams, and more.

Most monitoring objects used in digital television are supported out of the box as ready-to-use templates. Custom monitoring objects can be added using the scripting mechanism, provided the device exposes its parameters via Web, REST API, or SNMP.

Info

The term service is context-dependent. Throughout this manual it may refer to a digital television service, a MultiProbe service, or an operating system service.

Monitoring is supported for both studio signals and distribution signals delivered over IP, satellite, terrestrial, and cable networks.

Supported Monitoring Object Types

Monitoring Object Description Interfaces
OTT (HLS) HLS stream per RFC 8216. Supports video, audio, and SCTE-35 monitoring Ethernet
MPEG-DASH OTT stream per MPEG-DASH specification. Supports video, audio, and SCTE-35 monitoring Ethernet
RTMP OTT stream via RTMP protocol. Supports video and audio monitoring Ethernet
RTSP OTT stream via RTSP protocol. Supports video and audio monitoring Ethernet
Script Any device exposing data via Web, REST API, or SNMP. Requires a custom script (e.g. Python) Ethernet
MPEG-TS MPEG TS transport stream per ISO 13818-1. Supports DVB PSI/SI monitoring ASI, Ethernet, RF (DVB-T/T2/S/S2/C/C2)
MPEG-TS Service A digital television service within an MPEG TS stream. Supports DVB, SCTE, ARIB specifications ASI, Ethernet, RF (DVB-T/T2/S/S2/C/C2)
Single Signal Service A single uncompressed studio signal from one input SDI, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, UHD-SDI, HDMI, CVBS
Multiple Signal Service Multiple uncompressed studio signals from a multi-input interface board SDI, HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, UHD-SDI, HDMI, CVBS
SMPTE 2022-6 SDI over IP per SMPTE ST 2022-6 Ethernet
SMPTE 2110 Uncompressed component signals over IP per SMPTE ST 2110-20/30/40 Ethernet
NDI NDI format signals (NewTek) for television production Ethernet
T2-MI T2-MI transport stream for DVB-T2 terrestrial broadcasting Ethernet, RF, ASI

Figure 1. Interrelation of signals, interfaces and monitoring objects (part 1 of 2) Figure 1. Interrelation of signals, interfaces and monitoring objects (part 1 of 2)

Figure 2. Interrelation of signals, interfaces and monitoring objects (part 2 of 2) Figure 2. Interrelation of signals, interfaces and monitoring objects (part 2 of 2)