IneoQuest Technologies has released Inspector LAB, a new test and measurement solution for optimising video content for over-the-top (OTT) delivery.
In order to remain competitive, video providers are being challenged to re-evaluate their content preparation and encoding technologies and workflows. These challenges include the greater use of adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming, the shift to the HEVC codec for bandwidth, storage and cost savings, and a complete re-architecting of the head-end workflow to address both linear and OTT needs through combinations of physical and virtual/cloud based assets. Inspector LAB was designed to support video providers wrestling with these challenges.
Inspector LAB features an IneoQuest-developed video quality scoring technology that effectively grades video streams in real time. This non-reference quality scoring model, iQ-MOS, allows streams being processed for multiscreen delivery to be graded on-the-fly, enabling encoder/transcoder users to immediately see the impact of changes they make to any of the dozen or more settings that can be used to tune the output.
Comparisons between virtual or appliance-based encoder/transcoder solutions from the same or different vendors is accomplished in real time, opening the door to testing against a much broader spectrum of content types than was previously feasible.
"Compressionists currently check video quality using their expert visual acuity or machine-based reference-model scoring, in which software scores the compressed derivative version of a video against the original master copy. Both methods are time-consuming and neither work for live-streamed video content," said Kurt Michel, senior marketing director, IneoQuest. "Inspector LAB enables compressionists to not only score live streaming content, but also dramatically reduce scoring time compared to these visual and reference-based methods. By making scoring easier, Inspector LAB helps video providers deliver consistent, high-quality content every time."
IneoQuest recently released three of its video quality-assurance products for use in networks built around network function virtualisation (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN).
Inspector LAB features an IneoQuest-developed video quality scoring technology that effectively grades video streams in real time. This non-reference quality scoring model, iQ-MOS, allows streams being processed for multiscreen delivery to be graded on-the-fly, enabling encoder/transcoder users to immediately see the impact of changes they make to any of the dozen or more settings that can be used to tune the output.
Comparisons between virtual or appliance-based encoder/transcoder solutions from the same or different vendors is accomplished in real time, opening the door to testing against a much broader spectrum of content types than was previously feasible.
"Compressionists currently check video quality using their expert visual acuity or machine-based reference-model scoring, in which software scores the compressed derivative version of a video against the original master copy. Both methods are time-consuming and neither work for live-streamed video content," said Kurt Michel, senior marketing director, IneoQuest. "Inspector LAB enables compressionists to not only score live streaming content, but also dramatically reduce scoring time compared to these visual and reference-based methods. By making scoring easier, Inspector LAB helps video providers deliver consistent, high-quality content every time."
IneoQuest recently released three of its video quality-assurance products for use in networks built around network function virtualisation (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN).
